Solvent influence in the formation of normal and abnormal carbene complexes in reactions of imidazolium salts with [Ir(H)2(PPh3)2(OCMe2)2]BF4

Abnormal and normal carbene complexes are formed in reactions of 2-pyridylmethylimidazolium salts with [Ir(H)2(PPh3)2(OCMe2)2]BF4 at room temperature in tetrahydrofuran (THF) or dichloromethane (CH2Cl2). Reactions in THF lead to the formation of abnormal carbene (C-5 bound), while reactions in CH2Cl2 lead to formation of normal carbene (C-2 bound).