Backfunctionalized imidazolinium salts and methods of synthesizing the same and NHC carbene-metal complexes therefrom. For backfunctionalized imidazolinium salts of the formula: Wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of an ester group, an amide group, and an aromatic group; R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an ester group, an amide group, and an aromatic group; R3 and R4 are each selected from the group consisting of a C1-C20 alkyl group, C1-C20 partially fluorinated alkyl group, an aryl group, an aryl group with para CF3 functionality, an aryl group having C1-C20 partially fluorinated alkyl groups or partially fluorinated alkoxy groups, and a C1-C20 partially fluorinated aliphatic group, and a C1-C20 aryl group; and X is an anion. The method comprises cyclization of a halogenated acrylate with a formamidine with Hünig's base in a solvent.