Seleno-mercaptan

=Seleno-mercaptan=

A seleno-mercaptan is an organic compound of the formula R-SeH. As such, it is an analogue of alcohols and thiols which contain oxygen and sulfur respectively in place of the selenium atom.

Seleno-mercaptans are toxic, as are the similar mercaptans (thiols), and notably foul-smelling, such that the Guinness Book of Records lists butyl seleno-mercaptan, a natural chemical produced by skunks (C₄H₉SeH), as a candidate for the foulest-smelling chemical.

External links

* [http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryfaqs/f/blsmell.htm What is the smelliest molecule? at chemistry.about.com]
* [http://guinnessworldrecords.com Guinness World Records]