In an attempt to form a group 10 ‘carbenoid’ derivative by double deprotonation of the N-mesityl substituted bis(phosphinimino)methane [CH 2 (Ph 2 PN-2,4,6-Me 3 C 6 H 2 ) 2 ], reaction with [PdCl 2 (MeCN) 2 ] yielded a singly metallated dichloropalladate(II) complex as the only product. This was completely characterised specroscopically and by single crystal crystal X-ray diffraction. In contrast, reaction of [CH 2 (Ph 2 PN-2,4,6-Me 3 C 6 H 2 ) 2 ] with [PtMe 2 (COD)] produced a bis(phosphinimino)methanide complex, which had also undergone ortho-metallation of two P-phenyl groups to effect a triple C–H activation reaction.