ILs improve the catalytic performance of palladium nanoparticles. Furthermore, ionic liquids can be used as pre-catalysts for chemical transformations. In this regard dialkylimidazoliums such as [EMIM]Ac have been used in the combination with a base to generate N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). These imidazolium based NHCs are known to catalyse a number transformations such as the Benzoin condensation  and the OTHO reaction.