A series of complex compounds that contain N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands with a remote heteroatom (rNHC) have been prepared in good yields and characterized. [Cl(NHC)(PPh3)2Ni]BF4 and [Cl(rNHC)(PPh3)(2)Ni]BF4 also combine the stability of carbene complexes with the activity of phosphine complexes and some are active and effective precatalysts for aryl-coupling in the Kumada-Corriu reaction. Aryl chlorides can be used as substrates. Their performance in catalysis as well as their easy preparation make the new compounds superior to other comparable mixed carbene-phosphine compounds known thus far. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.