Abstract The title compound 1, 3, 4-triphenyl-4, 5-dihydro-1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-5-ylidene has been prepared in quantitative yield from the corresponding 5-methoxytriazoline precursor by simple thermal decomposition in vacuo via α-elimination of methanol. The carbene is a stable solid in the absence of oxygen and moisture, and shows the typical reactivity of nucleophilic Wanzlick-type carbenes.