Feuerstein, WolframVarava, PaulFadaei Tirani, FarzanehScopelliti, RosarioSeverin, Kay2021-10-202021-10-202021-10-20202110.1039/D1CC05161Jhttps://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/182354Alkylidene ketenes typically display high intrinsic reactivity, impeding isolation on a preparative scale. Herein, we report the synthesis of alkylidene ketenes by reaction of imidazole-based diazoolefins with carbon monoxide. The good thermal stability of these heterocumulenes allows for characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction. N-Heterocyclic alkylidene ketenes can be used as C-donor ligands for transition and main group metals, as evidenced by the isolation of complexes with AuCl, RhCl(CO)2, PdCl(C3H5) and GaCl3.text::journal::journal article::research article