Metal-induced tautomerization of oxazole and thiazole molecules to heterocyclic carbenes

Oxazole and thiazole molecules N-coordinated to manganese(I) are transformed into their corresponding 2,3-dihydrooxazol-2-ylidene and 2,3-dihydrothiazol-2-ylidene carbene tautomers by acid–base reactions, and subsequently transmetalated to gold(I), via isolable heterometallic intermediates.