Split cycle internal combustion engine

A split cycle type internal combustion engine comprising

• at least one combustion cylinder associated with a relating piston and a relating head, equipped with at least one admission valve and an exhaust valve,
• at least one compressor cylinder associated to a relating piston and a relating head and arranged to feed the combustion cylinder with compressed air through said admission valve,
• first control means of said at least one admission valve and
• second control means of said at least one exhaust valve,
• wherein the piston of the combustion cylinder is associated with a crankshaft by means of a crank mechanism so that the combustion cylinder performs a two-strokes cycle and wherein
• when the engine is in a firing condition, said second control means are arranged to cause a first opening event of the at least one exhaust valve in a first predetermined angular position of the crankshaft and wherein
• when the engine is in engine braking condition, said second control means are arranged to move said first event into a second predetermined angular position (EXB, EXB_1) out of phase by about 180 degrees with respect to said first angular position and said first control means are arranged to generate a first opening event of the admission valve approximately at a crankshaft angular reference position (0.0) in which the piston of the combustion cylinder is at a relating top dead center.