A series of palladium(II) complexes with 1,2-bis[di(benzo-15-crown-5)phosphino]ethane ligand (dbcpe), [Pd(dbcpe)X 2 ] (X = Cl 1, Br 2 and I 3), have been successfully synthesised and characterised. The X-ray crystal structure of dbcpe has also been determined. The cation-binding properties of the complexes have been studied and the stability constants with alkali metal cations determined. The crown-free analogue of dbcpe, 1,2-bis[bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)phosphino]ethane (ddmppe), and the related complexes have also been prepared and comparison studies have been made.