Reaction of a series of nitrogen donor ligands (1-phenylpyrazoles, 2-phenylpyridine, benzo[h]quinoline, 1-(2′-pyridyl)indole, 1-phenylindazole, and 2-phenylindazole) with palladium(II) and platinum(II) salts gave complexes where ortho-metallation had occurred resulting in bidentate binding to the metal centres through N and C atoms. These cyclometallated products were isolated as µ-chloro dimers. Subsequent treatment of these µ-chloro dimers with chelatin