Stable carbenes as strong bases

The stable carbene 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene has a pKa of 24 in (CD3)2SO and gives an elimination:substitution ratio with 2-bromopropane comparable to that of 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN).