Linear α‑Olefins Obtained with Palladium(II) Complexes Bearing a Partially Oxidized Tetraphosphane

The coordination of Pd­(II) to the 1,3-trans- and 2,3-trans-dioxides and the trioxide of cis,trans,cis-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.