The 9-fluorenylmethyl (Fm) group was examined with respect to its potential for blocking the sulfhydryl function. The S-Fm group is resistant to acids and to catalytic hydrogenation but is cleaved by ammonia in methanol or by organic bases, such as a 20% solution of piperidine in dimethylformamide. Synthesis of N-tert.-butyloxycarbonyl-S-9-fluorenylmethyl-L-cysteine p-nitrophenyl ester and of cysteinyl peptides protected with the S-Fm group are described.