Polydentate macrocyclic NHCs (NHC ligands) and related methods are disclosed. Such ligands advantageously facilitate a variety of ligand coordination modes and stabilize oxidation states of metal complexes with a number of coordination environments and shapes. The NHC ligands described herein comprise pendant groups configured to facilitate a variety of reactions including: cis-trans isomerization, proton shuttling and facilitating changes in coordination environments as a result of redox reactions
