The complexes rac-5 and rac-6 of the trans-5-palladatricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,4)]h
eptane rac-2a with norbornadiene and 1,5-cyclo-octadiene were prepared and
investigated by X-ray structure determination. With open-chained, unsaturat
ed substrates, e.g. 7 and 8, no complexes could be isolated. In all cases n
o insertion of the olefin into the metal-carbon bond of the palladacycloalk
ane was observed.