. Can. J. Chem. 68, 1357 (1990). Preparations of the thiophenophane and open chain thioether complexes MX2.BBTE (M = Pd; X = C1, I) (M = Pt; X = C1) (BBTE = 1,2-bis(benzy1thio)ethane) and MX2.L (M = Pd; X = C1, Br, I, SCN) (M = Pt; X = C1) (L = 2,5,8-trithia[9](2,5)thiophenophane) are described. The molecular structure of PdBr2.L which contains a weak thiophene-sulfur-topalladium interaction has been determined: space group P2]/n, a = 8.3569(3), b = 16.3254(15), c = 11.1462(3) A, P = 92.833(4)", Z = 4, Rf = 0.060, R, = 0.058. The electronic, low frequency ir, and I3C nrnr spectra are described. Variable temperature 'H nmr spectra are discussed and it is concluded that the open chain complexes undergo rapid conformational exchange at room temperature but are configurationally rigid unless the temperature is increased. In contrast, the macrocyclic complexes undergo very limited conformational and no configurational exchange up to theu decomposition temperatures. They are also nonfluxional in the same temperature range. Chemical exchange of acidic ligand hydrogens and a metal-ligand dissociative equilibrium were also detected when X = SCN.Key words: thiophene, thioether, macrocyclic metal complexes. On discute des spectres rmn du 'H a tempkrature variable et on en conclut que, a la temptrature ambiante, les complexes avec des chaines ouvertes subissent des tchanges conformationnels rapides; toutefois, ils sont rigides d'un point de vue configurationnel, i moins que l'on augmente la temptrature. Par ailleurs, lorsqu'on soumet les complexes avec des macrocycles B des temptratures allant jusqu'i leurs temptratures de dtcomposition, ils ne subissent que des tchanges conformationnels et configurationnels trts limitts. Dans le cas oil X = SCN, on a aussi dttectt un tchange chimique impliquant les hydrogtnes acides agissant comme ligands ainsi qu'un tquilibre mttal ligand impliquant une dissociation.