Two N,N-bis(diphenylphosphino)-amine ligands [amine = 4-aminomorpholine (L-1) or 1-amino-4-methylpiperazine (L-2)] and their Pd(II) complexes were synthesised and characterised by IR and NMR spectroscopies. The structures of ligand L-1 and both complexes C-1 and C-2 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic activity of C-1 and C-2 in the Heck coupling reactions was assessed. The effect of parameters such as palladium source, solvent, base and reaction time on the conversion was investigated to obtain the optimum conditions for the reaction. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.