The anhydride structure of several previously reported stable areneselenenic acids1

The compounds previously reported² to be the stable areneselenenic acids, $\text{o}$-nitro-($\text{la}$ and $\text{+o}$-benzoylbenzeneselenenic acid ($\text{lb}$), are shown actually to be the corresponding selenenic anhydrides (ArSeOSeAr). Solutions of the selenenic acids (ArSeOH), however, can be easily generated from the anhydrides byacid-catalyzed hydrolysis.