title: Ethane-1,2-dithiol
text: # Ethane-1,2-dithiol
  
  Ethane-1,2-dithiol, also known as EDT, is a colorless liquid with the formula $C_2H_4(SH)_2.$ It has a very characteristic odor which is compared by many people to rotten cabbage. It is a common building block in organic synthesis and an excellent ligand for metal ions.
  
  ## Preparation
  
  Ethane-1,2-dithiol is made commercially by the reaction of 1,2-dichloroethane with aqueous sodium bisulfide. In the laboratory, it can also be prepared by the action of 1,2-dibromoethane on thiourea followed by hydrolysis.
  
  ## Applications
  
  As a 1,2-dithiol, this compound is widely used in organic chemistry because it reacts with aldehydes and ketones to give 1,3-dithiolanes, which are useful intermediates.
  
         $C_2H_4(SH)_2$ + RR'CO → $C_2H_4S_2CRR'$ + $H_2O$
  
  Other 1,2- and 1,3-dithiols undergo this reaction to give related 1,3-dithiolanes and 1,3-dithianes (six-membered rings). Diols such as ethylene glycol undergo analogous reactions to 1,3-dioxolanes and 1,3-dioxanes. One distinguishing feature of the dithiolanes and dithianes derived from aldehydes is that the methyne group can be deprotonated and the resulting carbanion alkylated.
  
  1,2-Ethanedithiol is commonly used as a scavenger in peptide cleavage synthesis.
  
  