Non-racemic (S, S, S, S)-(-)-2,2-bis-(4,5-diphenyl-1, 3-imidazoline) 1 has been prepared in good yields from the reaction of (S, S)(-)1,2-diphenylethylenediamine with diethyl oxalimidate. The reaction of 1 with sodium tetrachloropalladate yields [PdCl2(1)] complex 2, whose structure has been ascertained by means of X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 2 catalyzes the hydro-arylation of norbornene in good catalytic activity but with poor enantioselectivity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.