Ethylene thiourea
Ethylene thiourea is an organosulfur compound with the formula. It is an example of an N,N-disubstituted thiourea. It is a white solid. It is synthesized by treating ethylenediamine with carbon disulfide.
Ethylene thioureas are an excellent accelerant of vulcanization of neoprene and polychloroprene rubbers. In commercial use is the N,N'-diphenylethylenethiourea. Due to reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity, and mutagenicity, alternatives are being sought to the ethylenethioureas. One candidate replacement is N-methyl-2-thiazolidinethione.
Ethylene thiourea can be used as a biomarker of exposure to ethylenebisdithiocarbamates, which are frequently employed as fungicides in agriculture, mainly on fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants.EPA classification
has classified ethylene thiourea as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen. Ethylene thiourea has been shown to be a potent teratogen in rats orally or dermally exposed.
