An equilibrium between [(SIMes)Cu-CF3] (1, SIMes = 1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene) and the cuprate salt [(SIMeS)(2)Cu][(CF3)(2)Cu] (2) was Observed. Synthetic methods to prepare and isolate 2 are reported. Trifluoromethylations using equilibrium Mixtures of 1 and 2 occur readily for aryl iodides and even occur for aryl bromides at 90 degrees C. Kinetic data suggest the cuprate form does not play a significant role in trifluoromethylations using N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of copper.