Xanthate



Xanthates are the salts and esters of a xanthic acid, RundefinedundefinedOC(=S)undefinedSH or O-esters of dithiocarbonic acid where R is any organic residue. The ethyl ester CH3CH2OC(=S)undefinedSH is also the parent compound xanthic acid. Many xanthates have a yellow colour, which gives the compound its name derived from xanthous, meaning yellow. IUPAC does not recommend the use of this term.

Xanthates can be produced from carbon disulfide, and are used as flotation agents in mineral processing. They are intermediates in the Chugaev elimination. Xanthates are also used to control radical polymerisation under the RAFT process, also termed MADIX.