A charge-tagged N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) has been synthesized and its utility in allowing the dynamic behaviour of metal complexes to be monitored in real time using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry demonstrated. This compound was used to prepare different metal-NHC complexes, and the kinetic behaviour of complex formation and ligand exchange was monitored in real time through the use of pressurized sample infusion electrospray mass spectrometry (PSI-ESI-MS).