Chemists have always set their sights on molecules that open new doors in synthesis and technology. In the broader history of thienyl derivatives, 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One earned attention during the mid-twentieth century as sulfur-containing compounds started making waves in organic chemistry. Interest in this molecule rose out of efforts to design new heterocyclic frameworks for both pharmaceuticals and materials. Early researchers, drawing on sulfur’s unique reactivity, explored benzo[b]thiophene structures in earnest, branching into the 1-one derivatives as potential candidates for new chemical transformations. Journals from the 1960s point to patent filings and technical articles focusing on the preparation of the core skeleton, proof of the growing curiosity. Over time, advancements in purification, analytical instrumentation, and the systematic mapping of structure-activity relationships brought more clarity — giving chemists the tools to characterize and utilize these compounds with more precision than those pioneers ever imagined.
Ask any organic chemist about benzo[b]thiophene derivatives, and they’ll likely mention their versatility. 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One carries a fused ring system — connecting a benzene and a thiophene ring, joined with an ethanone bridge. A compound like this walks the line between aromatic stability and functional reactivity, lending itself to synthetic modifications. Many labs order it as a pale yellow, crystalline solid, ready for use in fine chemicals or assay reference material. Others may recognize it as a starting point for more targeted molecular libraries, bridging the gap between academic discovery and industrial practicality. The core structure allows chemists to build from a well-defined scaffold, tailoring further modifications based on targeted biological or electronic properties.
This molecule tips the scale at a moderate molecular weight, hovering in the low-to-mid 200s. Its crystalline form signals that it packs well, forming ordered structures in the solid state. 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One melts in the vicinity of 60 to 80°C, offering a window for both solution and melt-phase reactions. Odor is minimal, as with many fused aromatics, offering an immediate clue about volatility — this isn’t something that’s likely to lift off the bench on a summer day. Solubility tests with common solvents like acetone, dichloromethane, and methanol show promising uptake, which means it can fit into a variety of synthetic workflows. Chemically, the carbonyl group at position one sits ready for nucleophilic attack, and the aromatic system relays stability — a measured blend of reactivity and resilience, which matters in both test-tube and large-scale settings. Its UV-vis absorption edge sits in the range expected for extended conjugation, guiding those who design electronic or photonic materials.
Vendors usually supply this product with purity above 98%, confirmed by HPLC or GC, often verified alongside NMR and IR spectra included in the product documentation. Standard packaging ranges from gram to multi-kilogram quantities, with labeling that stresses safe handling, batch number, and storage conditions — typically a cool, dry environment away from sunlight. Each bottle rests in an amber glass vial, accompanied by a certification of analysis. Storage life leans toward several years under recommended conditions, with little sign of degradation in sealed containers. Shipping information emphasizes measures against photodegradation and accidental contact. Any labworker who values traceability or compliance with local and global chemical handling codes can trust these specifications, which keep confusion and risk to a minimum at the bench.
Preparation often begins with commercially available benzo[b]thiophene and involves acylation. In the classic approach, Friedel-Crafts acylation targets the thiophene ring, offering regiocontrol with an acyl chloride and Lewis acid like aluminum chloride. Workup usually includes hydrolysis and extraction, followed by stepwise purification through column chromatography. In recent years, some labs have leaned into greener options, swapping out chlorinated solvents for less hazardous alternatives and exploring solid-supported catalysts to cut down on waste. Process notes keep track of critical reaction temperatures, which ensure selectivity and reproducibility — two hallmarks of any reliable preparation. Chemists who deal with batch-to-batch irregularities often trace the issue to the purity of starting materials or the handling of Lewis acids, not the underlying synthetic logic.
Once on the shelf, this ketone opens doors to a host of reactions. The carbonyl oxygen welcomes nucleophiles, setting the stage for reductive amination or Grignard addition, both of which expand structural complexity in a single step. Electrophilic aromatic substitutions can target the benzo ring, while cross-coupling at the thiophene brings in modern palladium-catalyzed methods. Researchers chasing analogs can swap side chains or introduce halides on the aromatic system, each bringing subtle changes in polarity or biological activity. At a practical level, the ability to customize this molecular framework without starting from scratch saves time and cuts down on waste, which both academic and industry groups appreciate.
This compound shows up in literature under a handful of names. 2-(1-Oxoethyl)benzo[b]thiophene or even Benzothiophen-2-ylethanone appear in catalogs, though the name 1-Benzothien-2-ylethan-1-one surfaces most often on chemical supplier sites. Registration databases like CAS and PubChem standardize identifiers, making cross-referencing easier regardless of geography or manufacturer. Such naming variation sometimes confuses students or early-career researchers, especially during cross-journal searches, but accuracy in internal records keeps procurement and compliance headaches at bay.
Safety data sheets for this molecule underline the importance of gloves, safety glasses, and fume hood handling. Inhalation risks rank low, though accidental skin contact can cause mild irritation, so personal protective equipment remains a best practice. Disposal guidelines match other stable organosulfur chemicals — collected for incineration or managed by solvent recovery contractors. Anyone working with larger quantities must keep spill kits and eyewash stations accessible. Training on sulfur compound hazards and safe workup practices fits into standard lab onboarding. Supply chain transparency, especially for regions adhering to REACH or OSHA standards, provides confidence in product safety and keeps inspections straightforward.
Much of the recent interest in 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One flows from its place in pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. The tuple of stability, modifiability, and the presence of a sulfur atom brings out new chemistry for drug discovery — especially kinase inhibitors or ligand screening. Beyond therapeutics, its electronic properties grab the attention of materials chemists, who search for next-generation organic semiconductors and photoresponsive components. Research groups have used it as a reference in spectral studies or as a precursor to custom dye molecules for sensor applications. Legacy uses in analytical chemistry still pop up in reference lab protocols, anchoring this molecule solidly in both old and new pursuits.
Active research leans heavily on the versatility of this skeleton. Teams in medicinal chemistry modify it to chase novel receptor binding, tweaking the aromatic system or the side-chain substituents to optimize for target affinity and metabolic stability. Analytical chemists dive into its spectral fingerprints, adding to structure-activity databases. Outside the bench, computer-aided drug design groups use this compound as a scaffold in molecular modeling and virtual screening. Companies interested in patent landscapes seek freedom-to-operate studies, sometimes leveraging unusual substitution patterns on the core structure to skirt crowded intellectual property territories. Academic consortia focus on benzo[b]thiophene rings when developing bioorthogonal probes or new ligands for organometallic catalysts.
Current toxicity data paints a conservative, though not benign, picture. Animal assays indicate low acute toxicity, yet consistent with many sulfur-containing aromatics, extended exposure draws attention for possible hepatic or respiratory irritation. Regulators in Europe and North America recommend conservative exposure limits pending more comprehensive metabolite studies. Chronic effects have not appeared in the usual patch or inhalation tests, which means standard chemical hygiene protocols remain the primary safeguard. Analytical development in toxicology continues, with LC-MS and GC-MS platforms giving clearer eluents and quantitation down to the low ppm range. Continuous publishing of new metabolic and degradation pathways brings better predictive modeling for human and environmental health risks.
This molecule’s structure primes it for expanding application in pharmaceuticals and electronics. Advances in high-throughput screening and combinatorial chemistry let research labs churn out dozens of analogs in weeks, accelerating the search for potent bioactives or next-generation optoelectronic components. Materials chemists manipulate the aromatic system for OLEDs or organic field-effect transistors, exploring electronic properties that might edge out more traditional, less sustainable organometallics. Increased data from academic-industry partnerships encourages regulatory clarity and boosts investment into greener, safer synthetic workflows. Granular spectroscopic and computational models inch closer to prediction, simplifying everything from procurement to scale-up.
1-Benzo[B]thien-2-ylethan-1-one offers a striking example of how chemistry ties together simple building blocks to create something unique. At its core, the molecule brings together two recognizable faces: a benzothiophene ring and an ethanone side chain. The benzothiophene itself looks like a fusion between a benzene ring and thiophene, making a fused bicyclic structure. This tricks the eye of anyone who likes to study planar aromatic rings, since the sulfur atom from the thiophene sticks out with its own quirks compared to an all-carbon setup.
Attached to the fused rings sits an ethanone group, basically a short two-carbon chain that carries a ketone at one end. If you’ve seen acetophenone or known anyone doing classic organic synthesis, this layout feels familiar, but not quite the same. The ethanone hangs off the 2-position on the ring system, which isn’t just a trivial point of attachment—subtle tweaks in these structures impact how the whole molecule acts. This placement often shapes chemical reactivity, impacts polarity, and affects how it dissolves in various solvents.
Folks who work in pharmaceutical or materials research care about the nitty-gritty of this structure. Sulfur in the ring adjusts electron density in predictable ways, changing how the molecule interacts with enzymes or surfaces. These slight differences in electronic behavior end up playing huge roles. Under the microscope or in a spectrometer, these rings stand out. They absorb UV light in a certain range, and the ketone moiety gives chemists an easy handle for modification.
Once you move from the blackboard to real-world testing, you see why structure matters. This layout means the molecule often takes part in further reactions—maybe someone adds a methyl group, or links two units together to push into polymer territory. In my own lab experience, I’ve handled cousins of this molecule; adding sulfur often changes the smell, the reactivity, and the way you run purification steps. These surprises might not sound dramatic but they force you to pay close attention during synthesis.
Benzothiophene derivatives pop up in plenty of places, sometimes as dyes, sometimes as charge carriers in electronics, or even as medicinal scaffolds. The combination of a fused aromatic and a reactive side chain makes 1-benzothiophen-2-ylethan-1-one a great starting point for innovation. Changing a functional group can flip the biological activity completely. That’s why medicinal chemists hang onto these molecules, as they remain common templates for new drug candidates targeting various enzymes or receptors.
Many practical solutions flow from small adjustments to structures like this. If more sustainable and efficient catalytic methods become mainstream, researchers get the chance to explore bigger chemical libraries with less waste. In my own work, swapping benzothiophene for all-benzene or all-thiophene analogs always revealed subtle pluses and minuses in stability, reactivity, and safety, helping teams make smarter calls about which molecules to push ahead.
Knowledge of precise chemical structures isn’t just for textbook completeness. Working chemists and engineers use these blueprints every day to unlock new technologies, treat diseases, and build smarter materials for everything from solar cells to pharmaceuticals. Deep familiarity with the likes of 1-benzothiophen-2-ylethan-1-one encourages smarter, more responsible chemistry—something the entire world benefits from in the long run.
Chemists look for creative building blocks in nearly every new project. 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One has one of those structures that makes synthetic chemists’ eyes light up. It belongs to the benzothiophene family, a group of compounds with a solid track record in both research and industry.
Drug developers appreciate benzothiophene-based compounds for their adaptability. The structure of 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One lets researchers bolt on other chemical groups to create new molecules with potential medical uses. For example, some early-stage treatments for cancer, infections, and hormonal disorders use chemical modifications that start with benzothiophene units. I’ve worked alongside teams who explored this compound class and saw how changing a few connections on the core skeleton can lead to entirely different biological effects.
There are research papers showing that derivatives of this compound sometimes act as estrogen receptor modulators. Drug design depends on these chemical platforms. Without new core skeletons to build upon, the search for targeted therapies would stall out. That’s why scientists keep bringing up this family in medicinal chemistry circles.
Modern electronics and plastics rely on smart chemistry. Recognized for their stability and electronic richness, benzothiophene scaffolds like 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One slip into the early stages of making organic semiconductors. These are the backbone for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic solar cells, and lightweight electronic sensors.
I’ve met materials scientists who study new ways to move charges efficiently through layers of molecules, and they routinely return to heterocyclic compounds like this one. The possibilities grow every year. A few years ago, a research group showed that tweaking the structure of compounds like this led to better performance in thin-film transistors, which are essential in clear, flexible displays. The world wants displays to bend, phones to fold, and solar panels to stick on odd surfaces. Benzothiophene derivatives offer one avenue for making that practical.
In my time around forensic labs, I noticed another use for compounds with this architecture: reference materials in analytical chemistry. Skilled analysts sometimes use 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One as a standard for fine-tuning instruments that sniff out unknown substances in a sample. Characteristic signals from this molecule help scientists calibrate sensitive detectors such as gas or liquid chromatographs.
Often, innovation depends on mastering one key experiment. Synthetic chemists find value in 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One as a test case for evaluating new reaction methods. Its blend of aromatic and ketone features challenges chemists to develop selective transformations. Companies looking to commercialize greener, safer, or more scalable chemistry start experiments with molecules like this before moving on to larger, more expensive projects.
Real progress depends on researchers sharing results and industry following up with practical, scalable methods. Open collaborations between academic teams, startups, and established companies speed up discovery. Safety always matters—stringent handling practices and environmental assessments keep lab workers and communities safe. The future of 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One hinges on responsible research and an openness to new applications across science and engineering.
Handling chemicals in a lab, especially those with long, intimidating names, can unsettle even experienced hands. 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One isn’t a familiar bottle on every shelf, and anything unfamiliar on the chemical bench demands more than a passing glance at its label. The risks often hide in the fine print: unknown toxicity, potential for skin or eye irritation, maybe long-term effects researchers haven’t untangled yet. It’s always tempting to rush through steps, but that mindset brings trouble. I’ve seen minor spills turn into clean-up epics simply because someone skipped gloves or forgot goggles. No shortcut erases the basic facts: chemicals like this sting, burn, or cause much worse damage—nobody wants to be the test case in what happens if.
Working with 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One, solid habits protect far more effectively than wishful thinking. Safety goggles don’t just block splashes—they protect eyesight for the long run. Nitrile gloves shield skin from accidental drips or direct contact. A lab coat seems routine, but clothing absorbs chemicals quickly, and street clothes provide little defense. Good ventilation cuts down on inhaled fumes; fume hoods aren’t just expensive furniture, they might keep someone from coughing for days or suffering lung irritation. In shared spaces, communication prevents mix-ups or surprise reactions, especially if others don’t know what’s on the bench. I’ve leaned on a lab partner to spot mistakes I missed, and that simple teamwork made all the difference.
A quick read of a substance’s safety data sheet can feel like reading a legal contract, but it pays off. 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One, with its sulfur and benzothiophene core, carries risk for both acute irritation and long-term harm. The European Chemicals Agency classifies chemicals with similar structures as hazardous, causing eye, skin, and respiratory issues by contact or inhalation. Without basic protection, accidents escalate—skin burns last, eyes suffer even from a single splash, and improper handling leads to contaminated workspaces. Spills can be stubborn to clean, embedding odors or toxins deep into shared benches or tools.
After the experiment wraps up, the story doesn’t end. Storage makes or breaks future safety. Tight-sealing containers, clear labels, and temperature control keep chemicals contained, prevent degradation, and protect anyone walking into the lab days later. I’ve lost count of times I’ve found old samples without dates—nobody wants to touch unlabeled bottles. Waste handling completes the loop; nothing good comes from pouring leftovers down the drain. Dedicated chemical disposal bins exist for a reason. Labs that take shortcuts here wind up with dangerous buildups or environmental breaches—and legal fines for the institution.
Careful handling starts with each person, but everyone benefits when safety means more than a checklist. Sharing experience, reporting near-misses, and keeping checklists current all foster a safer lab for newcomers and veterans. While gear protects from immediate harm, awareness and preparation draw the real line between mishap and successful work. Safer handling of 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One shows respect for fellow researchers, lab staff, and anyone exposed long after the experiment ends.
Chemicals, even ones with names that stretch across a tongue like 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One, require clearheaded respect. It’s easy to overlook the essentials, but safety comes from habits, not luck. As someone who’s spent too many hours hunting for mislabeled containers and wrangling half-melted gloves, I know that keeping things straightforward reduces the chances of chemical mishaps in a big way.
This compound won’t forgive a slapdash approach. Temperatures that drift above the recommended range can compromise shelf life and even safety. A cool, dry, and ventilated room gives the molecule little reason to misbehave. The temperature should not creep above room temp—think about your home’s pantry, not a sun-baked windowsill. Moisture doesn’t play nice either. Keep humidity at bay. Water creeping into containers creates unexpected reactions or ruins months of work.
Glass stands strong as a container choice. Plastics might leach or react over long stretches. Caps need to deliver a solid seal, keeping out air, water, and contamination. Avoid the urge to reuse old containers, even if they’re scrubbed inside and out. Leftover residues mix in ways you’d rather not deal with. Labels—written clearly, never in pen that fades—make for quick identification in a hurry.
Some organics change their tune if exposed to light for longer than they should be. For 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One, darkness gives peace of mind. Store away from direct sunlight or harsh fluorescent lamps. A cabinet, not a windowsill, keeps degradation from sneaking in slowly.
Mixing chemicals on storage shelves sets up a future headache. Segregate by hazard class and chemical compatibility, not alphabet or color. For this compound, sharing space with acids, bases, or oxidizers lays the groundwork for a messy accident. A chemistry professor once showed me how a single careless mix can ruin equipment and injuries can follow. Segregated shelving, labeled into categories, keeps the risk in the single digits.
Spill kits should wait within easy reach of storage. Gloves, eye protection, and a clear cleanup protocol—these aren’t luxuries. Even the careful ones see a flask slip or a lid left loose on a bad day. Good storage habits mean nothing if clean-up lags behind.
Following SDS recommendations and local rules isn’t just about paperwork. The detailed guidance in these documents comes from a long history of what works and what ended badly. I’ve seen labs save time and money just by sticking to these guidelines. Even at home, keeping records of what gets stored and when it arrived pays off in perspective—and peace of mind.
No container or storage plan can replace solid training for anyone who handles chemicals. Walkthroughs, hands-on demonstrations, and simple written sheets reduce mistakes to a minimum. Everybody, from a seasoned chemist to a new assistant, benefits from refreshing their memory. Good storage of 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One springs from routine, not luck. The margin between safety and an avoidable incident never comes down to luck—it follows from routine, clarity, and respect for the chemicals we handle.
Walk through any chemical storage room in a laboratory and you’ll spot labels: 95%, 98%, “reagent grade,” “analytical grade.” Purity isn’t just a detail. It’s central to reliable chemistry. In my experience, even minor impurities can throw results off, lead to wasted time, and sometimes even force entire projects back to square one. Think of the times a lab mate realized late their standard wasn’t pure enough—a frustrating, familiar scene.
1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One may not have the cultural cachet of caffeine, but for professionals in pharmaceuticals, materials science, or analytical chemistry, every detail about its quality matters. No two sources provide exact matches. Levels of purity reflect not just how “clean” the compound is, but tradeoffs in cost, difficulty of production, and—quite directly—the success of downstream work.
Manufacturers don’t just ship a single, one-size-fits-all version. Students and research scientists can open catalogs from Sigma-Aldrich, TCI, and Alfa Aesar and find purity grades specified down to the decimal. It’s not just a number for show. Those working in pharmacology labs won’t risk running clinical simulations with contaminants; quality control in manufacturing wants consistency batch after batch. Researchers spot “analytical grade” or “high-purity,” often above 98%, when tracing reaction mechanisms or synthesizing derivatives for testing.
From a practical standpoint, lower purity might suffice for initial synthetic experiments where the final compound’s application does not require total absence of byproducts. But some materials—especially those intended as API intermediates or for sensitive spectroscopy—demand pushing impurity levels to near zero. I’ve seen how expensive isolation at that level becomes; not every project budget can stretch for 99.9%. College labs manage with less expensive grades, but scaling up forces tough decisions about where to save and where to spend more.
Stories circulate about failed syntheses traced back to tiny contamination—from plasticizers in containers or moisture in poorly capped vials. I remember one supervisor telling us to check lot numbers and request certificates of analysis before ordering. Getting the wrong grade can ruin a trial, skew spectral analyses, or introduce artifacts that masquerade as real results. A publication filled with irreproducible findings often boils down to starting with materials of mixed quality.
Beyond reliability, safety stands at stake. Impurities, even in minuscule amounts, sometimes trigger dangerous byproducts in heat or light. That’s not fearmongering—it’s what process safety teams have underlined in audits and incident reports. Good labs keep documentation not only to track quality, but because regulatory checks demand proof of what actually went into a product or prototype.
Before clicking “add to cart,” it pays to check both supplier reputation and the certificate of analysis for each batch. Open conversations with technical support, not just sales teams, help clarify which purity makes sense for each stage—exploratory versus validation or production. My colleagues prefer vendors who offer batch level documentation and transparency about their manufacturing processes.
Waste isn’t just about money. Unusable material ends up as hazardous waste, and even trace impurities complicate disposal. Labs with a sustainability focus plan their orders, splitting shipments or pooling orders to ensure they get exactly what’s needed for the work at hand.
Access to high-quality, well-documented chemicals like 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One underpins both innovation and safety. As more scientists share data about pitfalls linked to purity, the call grows for standardized labeling and better supplier accountability. In the end, the right grade helps every experiment—whether a quick test or a clinical trial—stand up to scrutiny.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 1-(1-benzothiophen-2-yl)ethan-1-one |
| Other names |
2-Acetylbenzo[b]thiophene 2-Benzothienyl methyl ketone |
| Pronunciation | /benˈzoʊ θiːn tuː ɪl ˈɛθən oʊn/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 50312-87-7 |
| Beilstein Reference | 2026818 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:89919 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL2231999 |
| ChemSpider | 2221685 |
| DrugBank | DB04205 |
| ECHA InfoCard | ECHA InfoCard: 100_118_647 |
| EC Number | 6852-79-9 |
| Gmelin Reference | 124715 |
| KEGG | C22660 |
| MeSH | C15H10OS |
| PubChem CID | 162898 |
| RTECS number | KM3850000 |
| UNII | TY8G0J78S7 |
| UN number | UN3439 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C10H8OS |
| Molar mass | 208.26 g/mol |
| Appearance | Light yellow solid |
| Odor | Odor: weak odor |
| Density | 1.237 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | insoluble |
| log P | 1.86 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.0 mmHg at 25°C |
| Acidity (pKa) | pKa = 19.84 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 1.91 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -22.6e-6 cm^3/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.663 |
| Dipole moment | 3.7096 Debye |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 332.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | N05CM23 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Harmful if swallowed. Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation. |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | `"COc1ccc2c(c1)ccc(=O)c2"` |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H302, H315, H319, H335 |
| Precautionary statements | P261, P264, P271, P280, P301+P312, P305+P351+P338, P304+P340, P312, P332+P313, P337+P313 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-2-0 |
| Flash point | 133°C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD₅₀ (oral, rat): >2000 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): Oral, Rat: 640 mg/kg |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) for 1-Benzo[B]Thien-2-Ylethan-1-One is not specifically established by OSHA. |
| REL (Recommended) | 100 mg |