The molecule consists of a five-membered saturated ring with four methylene groups and a sulfur atom.

This vapor-phase reaction is catalyzed by alumina and other heterogenous acid catalysts.

[2][3] This compound is a ligand in coordination chemistry, an example being the complex chloro(tetrahydrothiophene)gold(I).

For example, tetrahydrothiophene occurs as a volatile from Eruca sativa Mill.

Because of its smell, tetrahydrothiophene has been used as an odorant in LPG,[3] albeit no longer in North America.