What is "thiophene"

Thiophene \Thi"o*phene\, n. [Thio- + phenyl + -ene.] (Chem.) A sulphur hydrocarbon, C4H4S, analogous to furfuran and benzene, and acting as the base of a large number of substances which closely resemble the corresponding aromatic derivatives.

n. (context organic compound English) Any of a class of aromatic heterocyclic compounds containing a ring of four carbon atoms and an sulphur atom; especially the simplest one, C₄H₄S.

Thiophene, also commonly called thiofuran, is a heterocyclic compound with the formula CHS. Consisting of a flat five-membered ring, it is aromatic as indicated by its extensive substitution reactions. Related to thiophene are benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene, containing the thiophene ring fused with one and two benzene rings, respectively. Compounds analogous to thiophene include furan (CHO) and pyrrole (CHNH).