From an <i>N</i>‐Methyl N‐Heterocyclic Carbene to Carbyne and Carbide Ligands via Multiple CH and CN Bond Activations

Multiple choices: The carbyne C atom of 1 and the carbide of 2 arise from an N-methyl group of 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene. The synthesis of complex 1, which involves activation of the three CH bonds of an N-methyl group, and that of complex 2, which requires additional activation of the CN bond, provide new examples of metal-mediated degradation of N-heterocyclic carbenes.