Novel eight 1,3-dialkylperhydrobenzimidazolinium chloride salts 3a-h were prepared as precursors of N-heterocyclic carbenes by reacting N,N'-dialkylcyclohexanediamine, triethyl orthoformate and ammonium chloride. The salts were characterized spectroscopically and the complexes formed in situ from Pd(OAc)(2) and 3 have been tested as catalysts in homogenous Heck coupling reactions.
