H2NCSNH2

H2NCSNH2 is the chemical formula for thiourea, a simple organosulfur compound that is the sulfur analog of urea (oxygen is replaced by sulfur). Its structure features a central carbon double-bonded to sulfur (C=S) and single bonds to two amino groups (NH2), giving it the formula CH4N2S. Thiourea is a white, crystalline solid at room temperature and is soluble in water and many polar solvents; it tends to decompose upon heating rather than melt with a well-defined melting point.

The compound can be prepared by classic routes such as heating ammonium thiocyanate to induce rearrangement to thiourea, or by reactions involving cyanamide with sulfur. These routes reflect thiourea’s relatively simple synthesis from readily available nitrogen- and sulfur-containing precursors.

Thiourea serves as a versatile reagent in organic synthesis. It provides sulfur in thionation reactions and is a common precursor to thiourea dioxide, a mild oxidizing agent used in bleaching and textile applications. It also serves as a starting material for the preparation of various thiourea derivatives and sulfur-containing building blocks, including reagents used for thioamide formation and in catalysis.

Safety and handling: Thiourea is hazardous if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. It can cause irritation to eyes and skin and may release sulfur-containing gases if heated strongly. It should be handled with appropriate protective equipment and used in well-ventilated facilities.

See also: Urea, Lawesson’s reagent, thiourea dioxide.