Nickel-containing di-charged imidazolium ligand with high crystalline organization. Interception and characterization of a transient carbene/cation species

► Synthesis of a new nickel-containing di-charged imidazolium-based molten salt. ► Nickel complex display a quite interesting 3D organization. ► The ESI(+)-MS studies suggests an additional stabilization by the presence of [NiCl4]2−.