Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical.



(also mustard oils or isothiocyanate esters), organic compounds having the general formula R—N=C=S, where R is an aliphatic or aromatic radical. Liquids with a pungent odor, they can be distilled without decomposition, are insoluble in water, are lacrimators, and cause burns upon contact with skin. Table 1 gives the properties of some isothiocyanates.

Table 1. Properties of some isothiocyanates
IsothiocyanateBoiling point,
Density, g/cm3
Methyl isothiocyanate  
CH3NCS ......................1191.069 (37°)
Ethyl isothiocyanate  
C2H5NCS ..................1311.003 (18°)
Allyl isothiocyanate  
CH2=CH–CH2NCS ............1501.016 (15°)
Phenyl isothiocyanate  
C6H5NCS .................2221.129 (23°)

Many isothiocyanates are found in plants either in the free state or in the form of glucosides—compounds with sugars or other substances. Allyl isothiocyanate is the pungent and odoriferous component of mustard. Isothiocyanates are quite reactive; they readily add to the N=C bond alcohols, phenols, mercap-tans, and other compounds to give thiocarbamic acid derivatives (R—NH—CX=S, where X = OR, OAr, SH, SR, CN, NH2, and so forth). Addition of carboxylic and thiocarboxylic acids is accompanied by liberation of COS and CS2, respectively, with the formation of acid amides (R—NH—COR’)- Isothiocyanates are hydrolyzed on heating (particularly readily in the presence of acids or alkalies) and are reduced by nascent hydrogen to amines (RNH2); they undergo halogenation with the formation of aminocarbonyl dihalides (R—N=CX2) and react with mercuric oxide, forming isocyanates (R—N=C=O). Isothiocyanates are obtained by thermal isomerization of thiocyanates (R—S—C=N), by decomposition of the derivatives of dithio-carbamic acid or of thiourea, and by other methods.

Many isothiocyanates have bactericidal, fungicidal, and insecticidal properties. Some of them are used, for example, in the production of synthetic fibers.


References in periodicals archive ?
One possibility is that the glucosinolate was converted to toxic isothiocyanate (Newman et al.
Abbreviations AITC: Allyl isothiocyanate MRP1: Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 ARE: Antioxidant response elements RT-PCR: Real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Electrophiles in foods: the current status of isothiocyanates and their chemical biology.
The concentration of T3 and T4 was determined in order to obtain information on possible effects of isothiocyanates of the diets containing rapeseed products.
Moringa seeds are rich in glucosinolates and released isothiocyanates. White-gray oil (105 [mu]l from 100 g of seeds) was obtained after hydro-distillation of the powdered seeds.
Most compelling, several studies have reported that the isothiocyanates that result from the breakdown of kale's glucosinolates affect epigenetic mechanisms--altering gene expression to trigger clearance of carcinogenic substances from the body more quickly.
In the presence of activating agents including isothiocyanates and other electrophiles Nrf2 may be activated through two distinct cellular signaling pathways resulting in the liberation of Nrf2 from its inhibitor Keap1.
The plant releases isothiocyanates when it is challenged or eaten.
During chopping, chewing and digestion, these chemicals are transformed into nutritional powerhouses called isothiocyanates.
You've probably heard some of them mentioned in the news: genistein in soybeans, flayones in dried beans, indoles and isothiocyanates in broccoli.