Facile base-free in situ generation and palladation of mesoionic and normal N-heterocyclic carbenes at ambient conditions

Synthesis of normal and mesoionic N-heterocyclic carbene Pd(ii) complexes in near quantitative yields from the corresponding NHC precursor salts under base free and ambient conditions is reported. A plausible mechanism involving charge-assisted hydrogen bonded intermediates is proposed. © 2014 the Partner Organisations.