. "bis(imidazoline-2-ylidene)s of the formula or protonated salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined for the imidazoline-2-ylidenes, wherein R3??? and R4??? are as defined for R3 and R4 for the imidazoline-2-ylidenes, and wherein R5 is a bridging group that links the two imidazoline rings;" . . .