2-Nitrophenylselenocyanate is used to study the mechanism of its reaction with the zinc/thiolate clusters of metallothionein. It is also used in the preparation of 2,3-seco-5 alfa-cholestane-2,3-diol and in the preparation of 4alfa-methyl-2,3-seco-5 alfa-cholestane-2,3-diol.