1,1′-(Pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(3-benzyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-ylidene), a new multidentate N-heterocyclic biscarbene and its silver(I) complex derivative

1,1′-(Pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(3-benzyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazole-2-ylidene) (5) is a new polydentate N-heterocyclic biscarbene, stable at −20°C in THF solution and obtained by deprotonation of the corresponding bisimidazolium salt 4. Reaction of 5 with silver(I) triflate yields the silver(I) complex 7.