Sulfur-containing aromatic ketones, eg, 4-mercaptoacetophenone2 (I), 4-(methylthio) acetophenone3 (2a), and 4'-(methylthio)-2-methylpropiophenone (2b), are potential intermediates for the synthesis of industrially useful compounds. 4-Mercaptoacetophenone has been used as an intermediate for the synthesis of 4-mercaptostyrene ace-tate4 (4) and its polymers. 6 On the other hand, 2b is an intermediate for the synthesis of a new UV cure ...