The alkali metal thioxanthates are produced by treating a thiol with a base in the presence of carbon disulfide, as illustrated by the preparation of sodium ethyl thioxanthate:.
:EtSH  +  NaOH  +  CS   →   EtSCSNa  +  HO
Sodium ethyl thioxanthate is similar structurally to sodium ethyl xanthate.
Alkylation of such thioxanthate anions gives thioxanthate esters, as illustrated by the preparation of ethyl methyl thioxanthate:
:EtSCSNa  +  MeI  →   EtSCSMe  +  NaI
Thioxanthate esters are also called esters of trithiocarbonate.