The title compound, C(27)H(38)N(2), is the first reported free imidazolidin-2-yl-idene carbene with 2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl groups in the 1,3-positions. The five-membered ring adopts a twisted conformation and the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 48.81 (6)°. Both isopropyl groups attached to one of the benzene rings are disordered over two sets of sites in 0.74 (2):0.26 (2) and 0.599 (8):0.401 (8) ratios.