thiolactones

thumb|right|α-, β-, γ-, and δ-lactones (left to right) Thiolactones are a class of heterocyclic compounds in organic chemistry. They are analogs of the more common lactones in which an oxygen atom is replaced with a sulfur atom. The sulfur atom is within the ring system and adjacent to a carbonyl group.

==Chemistry== Thiolactones can be prepared by dehydration of thiol-containing carboxylic acids. Thiolactones can be hydrolyzed back to the thiol acids under basic conditions. β-Thiolactones can be opened by reaction at the 4-position via SN2 nucleophilic reactions.