Thiolactic acid

Thiolactic acid is the organosulfur compound with the formula CH3CH(SH)CO2H. The molecule contains both carboxyl and thiol functional groups, \sC(\dO)\sOH and \sSH respectively. It is structurally related to lactic acid by the interchange of \sSH for \sOH. It is a colorless oil.

Thiolactic acid was once widely used in hair permanent waving formulations, but has been displaced by formulations based on thioglycolic acid. Instead of using the acid itself, its salts (2-sulfanylpropanoates) are used. It is now mainly used for depilation.