Pt(II) and Pd(II) dichloride complexes with 5,7-ditertbutyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dbtp) have been synthesized and characterized by infrared and 1 H, 13 C NMR, 13 C CPMAS spectroscopy. The structures of the cis-PtCl 2 (dbtp) 2 ·EtOH (1) and cis-PdCl 2 (dbtp)(dmso) (2) has been determined by signal-crystal X-ray diffraction. In both complexes the X-ray crystal structures shows that heterocycle ligand (dbtp) binds the central atom monodentate via nitrogen atom N(3). In addition, compound (2) is interesting for its structural features, because it is the first report of mixed dichloride Pd(II) complexes with N-donor (triazolopyrimidine) and S-donor (dimethylsulfoxide) ligands. In this structure the Pd–Cl distances are: 2.302(1) and 2.281(1)Å, Pd–N 2.041(3)Å and Pd–S 2.245(1)Å. The 1 H, 13 C NMR studies show clearly that these structures are retained in solution.