Overcoming NHCs neutrality: installing tetracarbenes on group 13 and 14 metalsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Complete experimental details, additional X-ray figures, and X-ray crystallographic files in CIF format. CCDC 987748-987751. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c4dt00990h

The first tetracarbene complexes of group 13 and 14 metals have been synthesized by employing dianionic macrocyclic tetracarbene ligands. The tin, indium, and aluminium tetracarbene complexes are structurally analogous to their porphyrin or salen analogues. The aluminium complex is the first example of multiple NHCs bound to this metal centre. The first tetracarbene complexes of group 13 and 14 metals have been synthesized by employing dianionic macrocyclic tetracarbene ligands.