The syntheses and properties of new N-heterocyclic carbene complexes [{1-(2,3,5,6-tetra methyl benzyl)-3-benzylbimy}AgCl] (2a), 1{1-(benzyl)-3-benzylbimy}(2)Ag][BF4] (2b), [{1-(benzyl)-3-butylbimy}AgBr](2) (2c), [{1-(benzyl)-3-(4-nitro-benzyl)bimy}AgBr] (2d), [{1-(benzyl)-3-(4-bromo-benzyl)bimy)AgBr] (2e), [{1-(benzyl)-3-(4-nitro-benzyl)bimy}(2)Ag][BF4] (2f), [{1-(benzyl)-3-(4-bromo-benzyl)bimy](2)Ag][BF4] (2g) (bimy = benzimidazol-2-ylidene), and [{1-(10-bromo-9-anthracenylmethyl)-3-butylimy)AgBr] (2h) (imy = imidazol-2-ylidene) have been described. Compounds 2a-2h have been characterized by H-1 NMR-, UV-vis- LC/MS-spectral studies and elemental analysis. Compounds 2a-2c and 2h are unambiguously characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 2h shows solution emission at room temperature. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.