Lena Rakers synthesizes and characterizes novel NHC ligands derived from the biomolecules cholesterol and camphor. The cholesterol-derived structures have been tested in micellar catalysis as well as in initial biochemical studies. Additionally, the author developed bidentate NHC-thioether hybrid ligands for the stabilization of Pd nanoparticles, achieving different solubilities of the particles through ligand selection and observing variable activities in the hydrogenation of unsaturated systems.