The synthesis and characterization of platinum-(II) and palladium(II) complexes of the type [PtX 2 ( n Pr-N-(Ph 2 P) 2 )] (X = Cl, I) and [PdCl 2 (R-N(Ph 2 P) 2 )] {R = n Pr, p-OMe(C 6 H 4 )} containing aminodiphosphine P,P-bidentate ligands is described. Complexes of the type [PtCl 2 (R-N(Ph 2 P) 2 )] (where R = benzyl, 2-picolyl and n Pr) catalyzed the hydroformylation of 1-octene, albeit at low activities and slightly elevated regioselectivities toward the linear aldehyde, when compared with analogous compounds containing small bite angles.