Potassium thioacetate


Potassium thioacetate is an organosulfur compound and a salt with the formula CH3COS−K+. This white, water-soluble solid is used as a reagent for preparing thioacetate esters and other derivatives.

Synthesis and reactions

Potassium thioacetate, which is commercially available, can be prepared by combining acetyl chloride and potassium hydrogen sulfide:
It arises also by the neutralization of thioacetic acid with potassium hydroxide.

Use in preparation of thiols

In a common application, potassium thioacetate is combined with alkylating agents to give thioacetate esters:
Hydrolysis of these esters affords thiols:
The thioacetate esters can also be cleaved with methanethiol in the presence of stoichiometric base, as illustrated in the preparation of 4-pentyne-1-thiol: