The synthesis of novel chelating palladium complexes containing pyridine/pyrimidine hydroxyalkyl di-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) via direct metallation of the precursor imidazolium salts is presented. The structure has been characterized unambiguously by X-ray single crystal analysis. Catalytic activity investigation showed that the complexes catalyse the direct C–H bond arylation of (benzo)oxazoles efficiently when using ^tBuOLi as base and DMF as solvent.