Selenol

File:Selenol.png

The structure of a typical selenol group.

L-selenocysteine, a naturally-occurring selenol

In organic chemistry, a selenol is a chemical compound that contains the functional group composed of a selenium atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-SeH). Volatile molecular weight selenols have highly offensive odors and are easily oxidized to diselenides, compounds containing an Se-Se bond. The essential amino acid selenocysteine is a rare naturally occurring selenol. Benzeneselenol is one of the more common selenols used in organic synthesis, its oxidized derivative is diphenyl diselenide.