thioketone

chemical compound

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Acetone Acetone is used in the preparation of thioketones, compounds that contain a thiocarbonyl functional group (―C(=S)―).

A thioketone is a chemical compound that is a ketone where the oxygen atom has been replaced by a sulfur atom. These compounds share the general formula RCSR, where R represents organic groups. Thioketones contain a thiocarbonyl functional group (–C(=S)–), which is analogous to the carbonyl group (–C(=O)–) found in ketones.12

Many thiocarbonyl compounds, including thioketones, are deeply colored and highly reactive. This reactivity stems from the nature of the double bond between carbon and sulfur, where the orbitals involved do not overlap efficiently. Thioketones can be prepared by reacting ketones with phosphorus-sulfur reagents, such as Lawesson reagent. They are also known as thiones.231

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

organosulfur compound
Thiocarbonyl compounds
…is found in thioaldehydes and thioketones, as well as in a variety of compounds with nitrogen or oxygen (or both) attached to the thiocarbonyl carbon (e.g., ―XC(=S)Y―, where X and Y = N or O). These compounds are named by analogy with the corresponding oxygen compounds—e.g., thioacetone, CH₃C(=S)CH₃, or 2-propanethione.…
Read More
…is found in thioaldehydes and thioketones, as well as in a variety of compounds with nitrogen or oxygen (or both) attached to the thiocarbonyl carbon (e.g., ―XC(=S)Y―, where X and Y = N or O). These compounds are named by analogy with the corresponding oxygen compounds—e.g., thioacetone, CH₃C(=S)CH₃, or 2-propanethione.…
Read More