A series of Ni(II) and Pd(II) hydrides supported by PNP and PCP ligands, including iPr2 PNP (CH3) PdH ( iPr2 PNP (CH3) = N(2-P i Pr 2 -4-MeC 6 H 3 ) 2 ), iPr2 PNP (CH3) NiH, iPr2 PNP (F) PdH ( iPr2 PNP (F) = N(2-P i Pr 2 -4-C 6 H 3 F) 2 ), CyPh PNPPdH ( CyPh PNP = N(2-P(Cy)(Ph)-4-MeC 6 H 3 ) 2 ), tBu2 PCPPdH ( tBu2 PCP = 2,6-C 6 H 3 (CH 2 P t Bu 2 ) 2 ), tBu2 PCPNiH, Cy2 PCPPdH ( Cy2 PCP = 2,6-C 6 H 3 (CH 2 PCy 2 ) 2 ), and Cy2 PCPNiH, were prepared using literature methods. In addition, the new Ni and Pd hydrides Cy2 PSiPMH (M = Ni, Pd; Cy2 PSiP = Si(Me)(2-PCy 2 -C 6 H 4 ) 2 ) supported by PSiP ligands were synthesized. The analogous metal hydride complexes supported by the Ph2 PSiP ligand ( Ph2 PSiP = Si(Me)(2-PPh 2 -C 6 H 4 ) 2 ) could not be prepared. Instead, the Ni(0) and Pd(0)which have been proposed to be in equilibrium with Ph2 PSiPMH (M = Ni, Pd) and PPh 3 , were prepared. Facile carbon dioxide insertion into the metal−hydride bond to form the metal formate complexes tBu2 PCPM-OC(O)H (M = Ni, Pd) or Cy2 PCPM-OC(O)H (M = Ni, Pd) was observed for PCP-supported species, and a similar reaction was observed for Cy2 PSiP-supported hydrides to form Cy2 PSiPM-OC(O)H (M = Ni, Pd).No reaction with carbon dioxide was observed for any complexes supported by PNP ligands. The η 2 -silane complex Ph2 PSi H PPd(PPh 3 ) reacted rapidly with carbon dioxide to give Ph2 PSiPPd-OC(O)H and PPh 3 , while the corresponding Ni complex Ph2 PSi H PNi(PPh 3 ) did not react with carbon dioxide. DFT calculations indicate that carbon dioxide insertion is thermodynamically favorable for PSiP-and PCP-supported hydrides because the strong trans influence of the anionic carbon donor destabilizes the metal−hydride bond. In contrast, carbon dioxide insertion is thermodynamically unfavorable for the PNP-supported species. In the case of the η 2 -silane complexes, carbon dioxide insertion is thermodynamically favorable for Pd and unfavorable for Ni. This is because the equilibrium between the metal hydride and PPh 3 and the η 2 -silane complex more strongly favors the metal hydride for Pd than for Ni. In the cases of metal hydrides, the thermodynamic favorability of carbon dioxide insertion can be predicted from the natural bond orbital charge on the hydride. The pathway for carbon dioxide insertion into the metal hydride is concerted and features a four-centered transition state. The energy of the transition state for carbon dioxide insertion decreases as the trans influence of the anionic donor of the pincer ligand increases.