The reactions of various palladium(II) and platinum(II) species with a number of ligands which may function as electron pair donors while simultaneously forming metal–carbon σ-bonds have been examined. Compounds containing metal–carbon σ-bonds have been obtained for NN-2-trimethylbenzylamine, N-benzylpiperid-4-one, 1-phenyl-NN-dimethylcyclohexylamine, triphenylmethylamine, N-methyltriphenylmethylamine, benzophenone phenylhydrazone, and benzo[h]quinoline. Various substitution and displacement reactions of some similar derivatives have also been examined.