Abstract A series of imidazole-based and benzimidazole-based di-NHC dipalladium complexes with alkyl bridges of different chain lengths were prepared. All complexes were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The crystal structures of three complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction. X-ray studies show the length of linker effects the solid structure of these complexes and π–π stacking plays an important ...