Axially chiral mono(NHC)–Pd(II) and mono(NHC)–Au(I) complexes with one side shaped 1,1'-biphenyl backbone have been prepared from chiral 6,6'-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2'-diamine. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystal structure diffraction. The Pd(II) complex showed good catalytic activities in the Suzuki–Miyaura and Heck–Mizoroki coupling reactions, and the (