Abnormal and normal carbene complexes are formed in reactions of 2-pyridylmethylimidazolium salts with [Ir(H) 2(PPh 3) 2(OCMe 2) 2]BF 4 at room temperature in tetrahydrofuran (THF) or dichloromethane (CH 2Cl 2). Reactions in THF lead to the formation of abnormal carbene (C-5 bound), while reactions in CH 2Cl 2 lead to formation of normal carbene (C-2 bound).