The reaction of chlorodiphenylphosphine with dilithiohydrazobenzene gave 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,2-diphenylhydrazine, [PPh 2 N(Ph)N(Ph)PPh 2 ] (1). Treatment of 1 with NiCl 2 (DME), PdCl 2 (PhCN) 2 , and PtCl 2 (COD) resulted in the formation of complexes of the type cis-[MCl 2 -{Ph 2 PN(Ph)N(Ph)PPh 2 }] (M = Ni (3), Pd (4), Pt ( 5)). The molecular structures of the starting ligand 1 and the complexes 3, 4, and 5 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The ligand 1 and its Ni(II) complex 3 were evaluated for their catalytic activity in the oligo-/polymerization of ethylene using methylaluminoxane (MAO) and triethylaluminium (TEA) as cocatalyst.