Reactions of the palladium(II) complexes trans-Cl2Pd(L-NH2CHRCO2Me)2 with AgBF4 in dichloromethane give the cationic chelate complexes [Pd(L-NH2CHRCO2Me)2]2+(BF4-)2 (R =CHMe2, CMe3, CH2CHMe2, CH2Ph, CH2CO2Me) inwhich the α-amino acid methylesters function as bidendate ligands. The complexes 1 - 5 are highly sensitive towards water.