2-Mercaptobenzothiazole

**2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT)** is an organosulfur compound with the formula C7H5NS2. It appears as a pale yellow crystalline solid with a disagreeable odor and is primarily used as an industrial chemical rather than a pharmaceutical drug. Its main applications are as a vulcanization accelerator in the rubber industry, corrosion inhibitor for metals, biocide in water treatment processes, and reagent in analytical chemistry for detecting heavy metals[4][5][7]. In biological contexts, MBT has been shown to inhibit thyroid peroxidase enzyme activity in vitro—a key enzyme necessary for thyroid hormone synthesis[1]. It can also act as a skin sensitizer and standardized chemical allergen by increasing histamine release[1][2]. While it has potential antifungal and antibacterial properties that have led to some research interest in pharmaceuticals, its primary use remains industrial.

Other names

1,3-benzothiazole-2-thiolbenzothiazolethiolbenzothiazolyl mercaptan2-sulfanyl-1,3-benzothiazolebenzothiazole-2-thiolbenzothiazole2-thiolbenzothiazole 2-thiolmercaptobenzothiazoleaccelerator-M2-benzothiazolinethione