The title cluster (Pd
32+) exhibits a pronounced affinity for Br
- ions to form the very stable Pd
3(Br)
+ adduct. Upona 2-electron reduction, a dissociative process occurs generating Pd
30 and eliminating Br
- according to an ECEmechanism (electrochemical, chemical, electrochemical). At a lower temperature (i.e. -20
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
C), both ECE and EECprocesses operate. This cluster also activates the C-Br bond, and this work deals with the reactivity of Pd
32+ with2,3,4-tri-
O-acetyl-5-thioxylopyranosyl bromide (Xyl-Br), both
![](/images/gifchars/alpha.gif)
- and
![](/images/gifchars/beta2.gif)
-isomers. The observed inorganic product isPd
3(Br)
+ again, and it is formed according to an associative mechanism involving Pd
32+···Xyl-Br host-guestassemblies. In an attempt to render the C-Br bond activation catalytic, these species are investigated under reductionconditions at two potentials (-0.9 and -1.25 V vs SCE). In the former case, the major product is Xyl-H, issuedfrom a radical intermediate Xyl
![](/images/entities/bull.gif)
abstracting an H atom from the solvent. Evidence for Xyl
![](/images/entities/bull.gif)
is provided by thetrapping with TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) and DMPO (5,5'-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxyde). In the secondcase, only one product is observed, 3,4-di-
O-acetyl-5-thioxylal, which is issued from the Xyl
- intermediate anion.