Imines of salicylaldehyde and 2,6-diformyl-p-cresol have been used as ligands in palladium (II) complexes. Enantiomerically pure ligands give enantiomerically pure complexes, racemic ligands give racemates and meso-forms. Differences between the respective isomers of the ligands within the complexes and between the diastereomers of the complexes were investigated. Crystal structure analyses established the trans configuration at the metal center.