in low yields in most cases. The use of tert-butylacetylene or N,N-dimethylamino-2-propyne, however, drives the reaction exclusively to the para isomer. Di-N,N-dibutylaminophenyl or isoquinoline ligands can also be produced in a single step by reverse Diels−Alder reactions. Cross-coupling reactions of iodo-substituted ligands or their platinum(II) complexes under Pd(0) catalysis gives branched ligands