Azido-palladacycles containing C,N-donor and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands, [(C,N-L)Pd(N 3 )(NHC)] [NHC = IPr; 1,3bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene], were prepared from (i) IPr and dinuclear Pd II azides, [Pd(μ-N 3 )(C,N-L n )] 2 [C,N-L 1 H = N,NЈ-dimethylbenzylamine; C,N-L 2 H = 2-(2Ј-thienyl)pyridine; C,N-L 3 H = azobenzene; C,N-L 4 H = 2-(ptolyl)pyridine], or from (ii) NaN 3 and mononuclear Pd II chloride, [Pd(Cl)(IPr)(C,N-L n )], in aqueous solution. The structures [a]