In the title compound, [PdCl2(C13H14N2S)], the PdII ion is coordinated by two N atoms of the chelating bidentate ligand and two chloride anions, giving rise to a distorted square-planar geometry. The methyl-substituted thio­phene arm and the pyridine ring are connected to the metal cation through N atoms to form a six-membered chelate ring with a boat conformation, making the complex stable.

Eight Pd(II) complexes of the general formulae [PdCl 2 (L)] and [PdClMe(L)] have been synthesized and characterized (L = the new pyridyl-imine ligands (5-methyl-2-thiophene-2pyridyl(R))imine and (5-bromo-2-thiophene-2-pyridyl(R)imine [R = methyl,ethyl]). The complexes showed good activity as catalysts for standard Heck coupling reactions.