Isomerism in [MCl2(ERR‘)2] (M = Pd, Pt; E = S, Se; R, R‘ = Me, Ph)

A series of thioether and selenoether complexes [MCl2(EPh2)2] and [MCl2(SMePh)2] (M = Pt, Pd; E = S, Se) have been prepared and characterized to explore the isomerism of the complexes in solution and in the solid state. The NMR spectroscopic information indicates that only one isomer is present in solution in case of the palladium complexes, while two isomers are formed in the case of most platinum complexes. Single-crystal X-ray structures of trans-[PdCl2(SPh2)2] (1t), trans-[PdCl2(SePh2)2] (2t), cis-[PtCl2(SePh2)2] (4c), trans-[PdCl2(SMePh)2] (5t), and trans-[PtCl2(SMePh)2] (7t) are reported and have been used as starting points for the X-ray powder diffraction structure determinations us…