Selenium hexasulfide

Selenium hexasulfide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula Se₂S₆. Its molecular structure is an 8-membered ring, consisting of two selenium and six sulfur atoms (diselenacyclooctasulfane), analogous to the S₈ ring, an allotrope of sulfur (cyclooctasulfur or cyclooctasulfane), and other 8-membered rings of selenium sulfides with formula Se_nS_8−n.

There are several isomers depending on the relative placement of the selenium atoms in the ring: 1,2-diselenacyclooctasulfane (with the two Se atoms adjacent), 1,3-diselenacyclooctasulfane, 1,4-diselenacyclooctasulfane, and 1,5-diselenacyclooctasulfane (with the Se atoms opposite). It is an oxidizing agent.

The 1,2 isomer can be prepared by reaction of chlorosulfanes and dichlorodiselane with potassium iodide in carbon disulfide. The reaction produces also cyclooctaselenium Se₈ and all other eight-member cyclic selenium sulfides, except selenacyclooctasulfane SeS₇, and several six- and seven-membered rings.