In then considering alternative approaches, one of the best-known metals for both C-H activation and also ortho-metalation is palladium. We were partly prompted in this thinking following the detailed study by Gorunova et al. of a series of palladium-to-mercury transmetalation reactions, prompted by the possibility that the simple mercury drop test used to establish the presence of colloidal palladium in catalytic systems could be corrupted by such a reaction. Thus, reaction of ligand 1 with K2[PdCl4] in EtOH under reflux leads to isolation of the corresponding di-µ-chloro dimer 3-12, in a yield of 31%, the dimeric nature being confirmed by ESI mass spectrometry (Scheme). Dimer 3-12 was then reacted with K[AuCl4] in a mixture of CHCl3/MeCN to give the target gold complex 4-12 in 48% isolated yield as a pure yellow powder, giving an overall yield for the two steps of ca 15% (Scheme). This is comparable with that reported using mercury (18%)