Abstract The cyclopalladation of ligands having a naphthyl group substituted at the 1- position by either amino or imino units has been studied. Palladation of the naphthyl unit occurs as expected at the second peri position of the N, N-dialkylamino substituted derivatives. However, the imines were not palladated at the 8-position of the naphthyl unit. The last ligands were synthesized by condensation of either acetone or acetophone on Pd ...