1,2-Dithiolane

1,2-Dithiolane is an organosulfur compound with the formula S2(CH2)3. It is also classified as a heterocycle derived from cyclopentane by replacing two methylene bridges (-- units) with a disulfide group. 1,3-Dithiolane is an isomer. The parent molecule is not important but substituted derivatives, especially lipoic acid and its derivatives, are important. Several occur in foods.

1,2-Dithiolane is the disulfide derived from 1,3-propanedithiol. It is however unstable with respect to polymerization.

Substituted derivatives of 1,2-dithiolane are found in some foods, such as asparagusic acid in asparagus. The 4-dimethylamino derivative nereistoxin was the inspiration for insecticides that act by blocking the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Lipoic acid is essential for aerobic metabolism in mammals and also has strong affinity with many metals including gold, molybdenum, and tungsten. Other 1,2-dithiolanes have relevance in nanomaterials such as gold nanoparticles or transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers (TMDs) (MoS2 and WS2).