The invention relates to novel compounds containing uretdione groups, to a process for preparing them by dimerizing aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic isocyanates containing exclusively secondary and/or tertiary isocyanate groups and also to the use of uretdione polyisocyanates obtainable by this process from diisocyanates containing exclusively secondary and/or tertiary isocyanate groups as a starting component for polyurethane polymers, in particular as an isocyanate component in the preparation of uretdione powder coating crosslinkers.