Novel 1,3-dialkylimidazolinium and 1,3-dialkyltetrahydropyrimidinium hexafluorophosphate salts as N-heterocyclic carbene precursors were prepared by reacting N,N'-dialkylethandiamine or N,N'-dialkylpropandiamine, triethyl orthoformate, and ammonium hexafluorophosphate. The salts were characterized spectroscopically and tested in homogeneous Heck reactions.