Interconversion of structurally characterised complexes [PdCl(Se ̂N)]2 and [Pd(Se ̂N)2]6 with the hemi-labile ligand Se ̂N=Me2NCH2CH2CH2Se−

The homoleptic hexanuclear palladium(II) selenolate [Pd(SeCH2CH2CH2NMe2)2]6 (1) reacts readily with Na2PdCl4 to afford the binuclear [PdCl(SeCH2CH2CH2NMe2)]2 (2) and the latter can be converted back to 1 by treatment with NaSeCH2CH2CH2NMe2. The 1 has a hexagonal cyclo-[PdSe2]6 centre in which two palladium ions are always bridged by two selenolate Se atoms.