Reaction of Pd(TMEDA)(CH3)(2) [TMEDA = tetramethylethylenediamine] with fluoroalkyl iodides RFI affords a series of square planar Pd(II) complexes Pd(TMEDA)(CH3)(RF) [RF = CF2CF3 (9), CFHCF3 (10), CH2CF3 (11)], presumably by oxidative addition followed by reductive elimination of CH3I. The solid-state structures of each compound have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, allowing the effect of increasing a-fluorination on the structural trans-influence of alkyl ligands to be examined. In these compounds there is no significant difference observed in the trans-influence of the three fluorinated alkyl ligands toward the trans-N atom, although a significant cis-influence on the neighboring methyl ligand is apparent. Oxidative addition of the same series of fluoroalkyl ligands to the corresponding Pt(TMEDA)(CH3)(2) affords octahedral Pt(IV) complexes trans-Pt(TMEDA)(CH3)(2)(R-F)I [R-F = CF2CF3 (12), CFHCF3 (13), CH2CF3 (14)] as the kinetic products. In each case, subsequent isomerization to the corresponding all cis-isomers is observed; in the case of 13, the stereocenter at the a-carbon results in two diastereomeric cis-isomers, which are formed at different rates. The molecular structures of 13 and its more stable all cis-isomer 16b have been crystallographically determined. Kinetic studies of the trans-cis isomerization reactions show the mechanism to involve a polar transition state, presumably involving iodide dissociation, followed by rearrangement of the cation, and iodide recombination. High dielectric solvents increase the rate, but solvent coordinating ability has no effect. Dissolved salts (Lil, LiOTf) show normal accelerative salt effects, with no inhibition in the case of added iodide, consistent with the formation of an intimate ion pair intermediate. The kinetic parameters show that the trans-effects of fluoroalkyl ligands in these compounds follow the order expected from the relative sigma-donor properties of the ligands, with CF2CF3 < CFHCF3 < CH2CF3.