Abstract Trimerization of butadiene in the presence of Ni (0) affords (1E, 5E, 9E)- cyclododeca-1, 5, 9-triene 1 (ttt-CDT),(1E, 5E, 9Z)-cyclododeca-1, 5, 9-triene 2 (ttc-CDT), and other isomers/oligomers. After optimization of reaction conditions,[14 C 6-3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12]-ttt-CDT 1 was synthesized efficiently either by homogenous or heterogeneous Ni (0) catalytic trimerization of [1, 4-14 C 2] butadiene 10, in 60–82% yield. Depending on the ...