The green side of the moon: ecofriendly aspects of organoselenium chemistry

Organoselenium chemistry has proven to be a powerful tool for organic synthesis over several decades. Nevertheless, the use of selenating reagents has often been limited by a generally bad reputation surrounding selenium toxicity and its potential impact on the environment. In this review we would like to stress some aspects that will encourage the reader to discover an unexpected green side to this element and the chemistry connected with its organic derivatives.