PURPOSE: To prepare an aromatic sulfur compound useful as intermediates for the preparation of agricultural chemicals, etc. in high yield, by heating and reacting an inexpensive aromatic hydroxy compound with H2S, thereby converting the hydroxyl group to a mercapto group and/or a disulfide bond.

CONSTITUTION: An aromatic thiol and/or an aromatic disulfide are prepared by reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound, e.g. monohydric phenols, naphthols, etc., with H2S in vapor phase at 400W600°C in the presence of a catalyst, e.g. silica- containing alumina, etc. When the reaction condition is rather mild, the main product is the aromatic thiol, and when it is severe, the ratio of the aromatic disulfide increases. Under ordinary reaction condition, the main product is the aromatic thiol. The aromatic disulfide can be converted to the aromatic thiol by reduction.

USE: Intermediates for the preparation of medicines, rubber chemicals, stabilizers for synthetic resins, etc.