selenoamides (2) from nitriles, metallic selenium, carbonmonoxide, water, and amines have been developed on the basis of an amino-group-exchange reaction of in situ formed N-unsubstituted selenoamides (1) with primary or secondary amines. The reactions consist of two processes, i.e., the formation of selenoamides 1 by the reaction of nitriles and H2Se formed from selenium, carbonmonoxide and water, and the subsequent