1,2-Dithioles

The chemistry of 1,2-dithioles, 1,2-dithiolanes, 1,2-dithiolium salts, naphtho[1,8-cd]-1,2-dithiole, and 3,3aλ4,4-trithia-1-azapentalene is updated for the period 1995–2006. All X-ray determinations of structures containing these two nuclei are listed. New methods for the ring syntheses of 1,2-dithioles and 1,2-dithiolanes from various fragments are summarized and exemplified. The importance of through-space sulfur sulfur interactions is discussed. The relevance of lipoic acid to the synthesis of potential drugs, and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is described. Naturally occurring compounds containing the 1,2-dithiolane unit are exemplified. The biochemistry of lipoic acid is briefly discussed