text: Thiols are easily deprotonated.  Relative to the alcohols, thiols are more acidic. The conjugate base of a thiol is called a thiolate. Butanethiol has a pK of 10.5 vs 15 for butanol. Thiophenol has a pK of 6, versus 10 for phenol. A highly acidic thiol is pentafluorothiophenol (CFSH) with a pK of 2.68. Thus, thiolates can be obtained from thiols by treatment with alkali metal hydroxides.