Reevaluation of organosulfur heats of formation resulted in the conclusion that the sulfur-sulfur bond of aliphatic disulfides is nearly 15 Kcal/mole stronger than the disulfide carbon-sulfur bond energy. Semi-empirical calculations using AM1, MNDO and MINDO/3 from the AMPAC program package confirmed these results and clarified their relative impact on organosulfide and disulfide properties. / Existing organoselenium bond energy data were also reevaluated and erroneous assumptions discovered. New bond energy estimates were made via a new procedure. It was concluded that the selenium-selenium bond is also stronger than the selenium-carbon of aliphatic diselenides. / The above results led to the conclusion that loss of molecular dichalcogen from molecules such as disulfides or diselenides is favored over the stepwise loss of a single chalcogen by about 40 Kcal/mol. Loss of molecular diselenium from dibenzyl diselenide is reported. The average carbon-selenium bond energy of the latter is calculated to be only 27 Kcal/mol. / The preparation of 2-thiatriselenides (RSeSSeR) and 2,3-dithiatetraselenides (RSeSSSeR) has been achieved from selenosilanes. The products were characterized by $ sp{77}$Se NMR and the trends of chemical shifts were analyzed. / The preparation of the first selenium transfer reagents, including the first unsymmetrical chalcogen transfer reagent, is reported. Their use to effect the synthesis of 2-selenatrisulfides (RSSeSR) is also reported. Low temperature $ sp{77}$Se NMR was used to elucidate the reaction mechanism and characterize several intermediates such as selenuranes, selenonium ions and azole selenides. In addition, 2,3-diselenatetrasulfides (RSSeSeSR) were characterized by $ sp{77}$Se NMR.

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