The phosphanylthiol PPh(2-C 6 H 4 SH) 2 reacts with the Ni II and Pd II complexes [MCl 2 L 2 ] in the presence of NaOEt to give the mononuclear derivatives [M{PPh(C 6 H 4 S) 2 }L] [M = Ni, L = PPh 3 (1), PPh 2 Me (2); M = Pd, L = PPh 3 (3)]. The analogous reaction starting with complexes containing bidentate ligands [MX 2 (L-L)] produces different results depending on the ligand used. The complexes [M{PPh(C 6 H 4 S) 2 }(dppm)] [M = Ni (4), Pd (5)], with an unligated phosphorus atom in the diphosphane are obtained with bis(diphenylphosphanyl)methane (dppm), while the dinuclear complexes [M 2 (µ-dppe){PPh(C 6 H 4 S) 2 }] [M = Ni (6), Pd