Thiol - Nomenclature

Nomenclature

There are several ways to name the alkylthiols:

• The preferred method (used by the IUPAC) is to add the suffix -thiol to the name of the alkane. The method is nearly identical to naming an alcohol. Example: CH₃SH would be methanethiol.
• An older method, the word mercaptan replaces alcohol in the name of the equivalent alcohol compound. Example: CH₃SH would be methyl mercaptan, just as CH₃OH is called methyl alcohol.
• As a prefix, the terms sulfanyl or mercapto are used. Example: mercaptopurine.