An unusual dinuclear Ir(I) complex bridged by two N-heterocyclic biscarbene ligands, forming a 20-membered, figure-of-eight dimetallacycle, and new CNHCCCNHC pincer complexes of Ir(III) have been obtained directly from the bis(imidazolium) precursors and [Ir(μ-Cl)(cod)]2.
