Potassium selenocyanate is the

inorganic compound In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds, that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as '' inorganic chemist ...

with the formula KSeCN. It is a hygroscopic white solid that is soluble in water, decomposing in air to red selenium and

potassium cyanide Potassium cyanide is a compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline salt, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications includ ...

. The compound has been characterized by

X-ray crystallography X-ray crystallography is the experimental science determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal, in which the crystalline structure causes a beam of incident X-rays to diffract into many specific directions. By measuring the angles ...

, which confirms that it is a salt. The C-N and C-Se distances are 112 and 183 pm, respectively consistent with triple and single bonds.

Synthesis and reactions

Potassium selenocyanate is produced by the reaction of molten potassium cyanide with elemental selenium.

Organic selenocyanates Organic selenocyanates are organoselenium compounds with the general formula RSeCN. They are generally colorless, air-stable solids or liquids with repulsive odors. In terms of structure, synthesis, and reactivity, selenocyanates and thiocyanates ...

are often prepared by treatment of potassium selenocyanate with

alkyl halide The haloalkanes (also known as halogenoalkanes or alkyl halides) are alkanes containing one or more halogen substituents. They are a subset of the general class of halocarbons, although the distinction is not often made. Haloalkanes are widely ...

s or

aryl In organic chemistry, an aryl is any functional group or substituent derived from an aromatic ring, usually an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as phenyl and naphthyl. "Aryl" is used for the sake of abbreviation or generalization, and "Ar" is used as ...

diazonium salt Diazonium compounds or diazonium salts are a group of organic compounds sharing a common functional group where R can be any organic group, such as an alkyl or an aryl, and X is an inorganic or organic anion, such as a halide. General properti ...

s. Potassium selenocyanate serves as a source of Se⁰, e.g., in its reaction with

triphenylphosphine Triphenylphosphine (IUPAC name: triphenylphosphane) is a common organophosphorus compound with the formula P(C6H5)3 and often abbreviated to P Ph3 or Ph3P. It is widely used in the synthesis of organic and organometallic compounds. PPh3 exists a ...

to give

triphenylphosphine selenide Triphenylphosphine selenide is an organophosphorus compound with the formula (C6H5)3PSe. It is a white solid which is soluble in most organic solvents. The compound is used in the preparation of other selenium compounds and is itself prepared by t ...

References

{{Cyanides Potassium compounds Selenocyanates