Abstract Oxidative insertion of [Pd (PPh 3) 4] or [Ni (cod) 2]/PPh 3 into the C [BOND] Cl bond of various 2-chloroimidazolinium-and other-amidinium salts affords metal–diaminocarbene complexes in good to excellent yields. This procedure is complementary to existing methodology in which the central metal does not change its oxidation state, and therefore allows to incorporate carbene fragments that are difficult to access otherwise. The ...