Abstract. The formation and crystal structures of bis(1-naphthyl) diselenide (1) and bis{ [2-(N,N-dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl} tetraselenide (2) are described. Whereas 1 can be produced in good yields, 2 is formed only as a minor product together with the known main product, bis{[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl} diselenide. The composition of the reaction mixture is semi-quantitatively estimated by 77 Se NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The effect of the