1,3-Bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolidinium tetraphenylborate dichloromethane disolvate

The title compound, C27H39N2+·C24H20B−·2CH2Cl2, is the first reported imidazolidinium cation with the sterically demanding 2,6-diisopropylphenyl groups in the 1,3-positions. The crystal structure is stabilized by weak intermolecular C—H...π(arene) interactions. Due to the bulky nature of both the flanking 2,6-diisopropylphenyl substituents and the tetraphenylborate counter-ion, anion interactions with the imidazolidinium H atom in the 2-position are not observed, also a first for this class of ortho-alkyl-substituted Arduengo-type carbene precursors.