The
coordination of Pd(II) to the 1,3-<i>trans-</i> and
2,3-<i>trans</i>-dioxides and the trioxide of <i>cis</i>,<i>trans</i>,<i>cis</i>-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)cyclobutane
gave two dinuclear Pd(II) complexes, which are structural isomers,
and a mononuclear complex, respectively. The latter complexes proved
to be suitable precatalysts for the oligomerization of ethylene to
linear α-olefins (98% selectivity). The different catalytic
activity of the structural isomers was shown to depend on the dynamic
behavior
of the molecular structure
