Cationic palladium(II) complexes of the sterically hindered bis(4-methylthiazolyl)isoindoline (4-Mebti) with neutral group XVI donor ligands

► [(4-Mebti)PdL]+ complexes with L = group 16 ligand were prepared by salt metathesis. ► Hard O donors do not form cationic palladium complexes by this method. ► Different distortions were found and explained by donor size and ligand orientation. ► NMR data prove the presence of the same non-planar distortions in solution.