seleno

Seleno is a chemical prefix used in IUPAC nomenclature to indicate the presence of selenium (Se) in a compound. It is derived from Selene, the Greek goddess of the Moon, and is used similarly to other chalcogen-derived prefixes to signify selenium as a key element of the structure. The prefix applies to both inorganic selenium-containing species and organoselenium compounds in which selenium is functionally important.

In organic and organometallic chemistry, seleno- prefixes appear in the names of functional groups and classes of compounds in which selenium replaces sulfur or oxygen in analogous structures. Examples include selenols (R-SeH), selenides (R-Se-R'), selenoxides (R-Se(O)R'), and diselenides (R-Se-Se-R'). Other categories include selenocyanates and selenoethers, where selenium forms part of the main framework or substituents. The precise usage depends on the naming system and whether selenium is treated as the principal element or as a substituent.

In biochemistry, seleno- appears in the names of selenium-containing biomolecules. Notable examples are selenocysteine and selenomethionine, compounds in which selenium substitutes for sulfur in the analogous sulfur-containing amino acids. Selenium-containing amino acids contribute to the activity of various enzymes and are used in research contexts such as protein labeling and X-ray crystallography.

Note that seleno is a naming prefix and should not be confused with the element selenium itself or with mythological references to Selene.