Xanthate anions also undergo alkylation to give xanthate esters, which are generally stable:
:ROCSK + R′X → ROC(S)SR′ + KX
The C-O bond in these compounds are susceptible to cleavage by the Barton–McCombie deoxygenation, which provides a means for deoxygenation of alcohols.
They can be oxidized to dixanthogen disulfides:
:2 ROCSNa + I → ROC(S)SC(S)OR + 2 NaI
Acylation of xanthates gives alkyl xanthogen esters (ROC(S)SC(O)R') and related anhydrides.
Xanthates bind to transition metal cations as bidentate ligands. The charge-neutral complexes are soluble in organic solvents.
Xanthates are intermediates in the Chugaev elimination process.  They can be used to control radical polymerisation under the RAFT process, also termed MADIX (macromolecular design via interchange of xanthates).