Novel functionalized 1,3-dialkylimidazolinium (LH) salts as precursors for N-heterocycliccarbenes (NHCs) have been prepared and successfully applied in the palladium-catalyzed synthesis of diaryl ethers and arylation ofbenzaldehydes. An efficient catalyst system was prepared in situ from Pd(OAc) 2 , 1,3-dialkylimidazolinium bromides (LHBr), and NaH.