Odorless substitutes for foul-smelling thiols: syntheses and applications

Several alkanethiols and p-alkylphenylmethanethiols were synthesized, and their odors were compared with those of ethanethiol and benzyl mercaptan by human and instrumental sensors. Among the various thiols analyzed, 1-dodecanethiol (1) and p-heptylphenylmethanethiol (3) were revealed to be odorless. 1-Dodecanethiol (1) has been used instead of ethanethiol for dealkylation of ethers, and p-heptylphenylmethanethiol (3) can replace benzyl mercaptan in the preparation of a 1,3-mercapto alcohol from an α,β-unsaturated ketone. These odorless thiols will greatly improve the physical environment of the researcher working with these foul-smelling compounds.