Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for acyclic diaminocarbenes (ADCs) catalysts such as those shown in FIG. 1.1 and in the Examples, methods of making catalysts, methods of using catalysts, and the like. Catalyst of the present disclosure can be useful in various catalytic transformations. Embodiments of the catalyst can be used in hydroamination, cycloisomerization, allylic rearrangement reactions, alkyne hydration reactions, Meyer-Schuster rearrangement reactions, and the like.