A laboratory experiment for students in advanced inorganic chemistry is described. In this experiment, students prepare two metal complexes with a potentially bidentate-carbene ligand. The complexes are synthesized by reaction of a bisimidazolium salt with silver(I) oxide or palladium(II) acetate. Silver and palladium complexes are binuclear and mononuclear species, respectively, in which the carbene ligand behaves in a different coordination mode. The reaction conditions are straightforward and the complexes air-stable species, even though the palladium compound must be prepared using air-free techniques. Students must also assign the signals in the [superscript 1]H and [superscript 13]C-{[superscript 1]H} NMR spectra. The complexes showed a fluxional behavior in solution as can be deduced from their [superscript 1]H NMR spectra. The students are given the 3D structures of the complexes as an aid to understand this dynamic behavior. The students should also use the FAB-mass spectrum of the silver complex and the concept of isotopic pattern in order to discriminate between a mononuclear and a binuclear structure.