n-Dodecyl (lauryl) mercaptan could be produced through the following synthetic routes.

A mixture of 125 g. (0.5 mole) of n-dodecyl bromide, 38 g. (0.5 mole) of thiourea, and 250 ml. of 95% ethanol is refluxed on a steam cone for 3 hours. A solution of 30 g. (0.75 mole) of sodium hydroxide in 300 ml. of water is added, and the mixture is refluxed for 2 hours. During this period the mercaptan separates as a pink to red oil. The layers are separated, and the aqueous layer is acidified with dilute sulfuric acid (7 ml. of concentrated acid to 50 ml. of water) and then extracted with one 75-ml. portion of benzene. The extract is added to the crude mercaptan layer, and the whole is washed twice with 200-ml. portions of water and then dried over 20 g. of anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent is removed and the residual oil distilled from a modified Claisen flask. There is no appreciable fore-run. The yield of n-dodecyl mercaptan, b.p. 165–169°/39 mm., is 80–84 g. (79–83%).