Thiourea
(or thiocarbamide), H2NC(S)NH2, a white crystalline substance with a bitter taste. Melting point, 180°–182°C upon rapid heating (decomposes upon slow heating). Moderately soluble in water, methanol, and pyridine, and freely soluble in 50 percent aqueous pyridine.
Thiourea is obtained by isomerization of ammonium thiocyanate (a) and by the addition of hydrogen sulfide to cyanamide (b):
Hydrolysis of thiourea yields ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide. Alkylation of thiourea produces the S-alkyl derivatives of isothiourea, S-alkylisothiouric salts (I), which decompose under the action of alkalies to form mercaptans (II):
where X is a halogen and R is an alkyl.
Thiourea is used in the synthesis of various organic compounds, including pharmaceuticals, and as a growth substance. Thiourea yields inclusion compounds with branched and cyclic alkanes, but not with hydrocarbons of normal structure. This property is used for the separation of these two groups of compounds.
B. L. DIATKIN
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