A crystalline C5-protonated 1,3-imidazol-4-ylidene.

The first C5-protonated 1,3-imidazol-based mesoionic carbene iMICBp (2) (iMICBp = :C{CH(NDipp)2C(Bp)}; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3; Bp = 4-PhC6H4) has been reported as a crystalline solid. Spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction, and computational studies clearly support the carbenic nature of 2, which has been further corroborated by its reactions with Ni(CO)4, (Me2S)AuCl, white phosphorus, and CO2.