“…Over the last several years, our group has begun to investigate nonclassical applications of closo -carborane anions 1 (Figure ). , In one embodiment of this approach, we covalently attach the anions to ligand frameworks, such as phosphines − and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). − The carborane anions are used as bulky and charged alkyl or aryl surrogates, and we have demonstrated the utility of such ligands in catalysis. ,,− NHC 2 (Figure ) is technically a dianionic carbenoid because it, and related species, , have been isolated as alkali metal complexes. With respect to NHC 2 , we have reported only a single anionic Au(I) compound 3 and disclosed no reactivity or further synthetic elaboration of this species (Figure ).…”