The reactions of guanidines [(ArNH)(ArN)CN-(H)(C(O)Py-2)] (Ar = 2-RC 6 H 4 ; R = Me (1) and CF 3 (2)) with Pd(OC(O)R′) 2 (R′ = Me, t Bu and CF 3 ) were studied with a view aimed at understanding the influence of substituent effects upon the nature of the resulting products. The reactions of 1 with Pd(OC(O)R′) 2 (R′ = Me and CF 3 ) in toluene at 65 °C afforded [Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}(OC(O)R′)] (R′ = Me (3) and CF 3 (4)), while the analogous reaction involving 1 and Pd(OC(O) t Bu) 2 afforded [Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}(μ-OC(O) t Bu)Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}] (5). The analogous reactions of 2 with Pd(OC(O)R′) 2 (R′ = Me, t Bu and CF 3 ) afforded [Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}(μ-OC(O)R′)Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}] (R′ = Me (6) and t Bu (7)) and [Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}(OC(O)CF 3 )] (8), respectively. Complexes 5−7 were treated with 2 equiv of Lewis bases, L at RT to afford [Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}(L)] [L = PPh 3 (9), 4-aminopyridine (10 and 11), and MeCN (12)]. The mechanisms of formation of new complexes were proposed. Complex 3 was treated with 12 in the presence of excess of NaOC(O) t Bu in CHCl 3 under reflux condition to afford a mixed Pd(II) pincer, [Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}(μ-OC(O) t Bu)Pd{κ 3 (C,N,N)}] (15), and this observation indirectly supports the mechanism proposed for the formation of 5−7. The mechanisms of formation of 9−12 were verified by in situ reaction involving 7 and PPh 3 (1 and 2 equiv) through 19 F NMR spectroscopy. The new compounds were fully characterized, and molecular structures of 1, 3•C 7 H 8 , 4−6, 8•C 7 H 8 , 9, and 10•H 2 O were determined by SCXRD. The CNN tridentate guanidinate ligands were present in monoanionic (3•C 7 H 8 , 4 and 8•C 7 H 8 ), mono-and dianionic (5 and 6), and dianionic (9 and 10•H 2 O) forms, and hence the structures of 5 and 6 are unprecedented. Complex 3•C 7 H 8 was used as an efficient catalyst in Suzuki−Miyaura reactions involving sterically hindered aryl bromides and aryl boronic acids.