Bicyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene stabilized zinc(0) complex with singlet biradicaloid ground state.

A storable bicyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (BICAAC) stabilized two coordinate zinc(0) complex [(BICAAC)2Zn] (2) was synthesized. DFT calculations reveal that BICAAC plays a decisive role in imparting the stability to 2. This complex activates the C(sp3)-Cl bond of trityl chloride generating the Gomberg's free radical with greater efficiency than metallic Zn powder.