xylates 2a−5 with the electron deficient alkenes and the cycloadducts 6 and 7 with the strained alkenes in acceptable to good yields (56 to 83%). In contrast to palladium(0) catalysts nickel(0) complexes catalyze both distal ring opening of 1 and oxidative coupling of the two double bonds when 1 is reacted with e.g. diethyl fumarate. The result is a mixture of the methylenecyclopentane derivative 5