N-heterocyclic carbenes with three and six fluorous ponytails and their highly fluorophilic Rh and Ir complexes

•Fluorous NHC complexes were synthesized with rhodium and iridium for the first time.•Silicon branched tag allowed synthesis of complexes with three or six ponytails.•Fluorophilicity was measured – the complexes are highly fluorophilic (heavy fluorous).•Microreview of fluorous N-heterocyclic metal complexes in presented.