Abstract

This microreview highlights the utility of 1,4? dithiane?2,5?diol 1 as a source for the in situ generation of 2?mercaptoacetaldehyde 2, a versatile two?carbon synthon featuring both electrophilic and nucleophilic reaction centers widely utilized as an attractive platform for the preparation of sulfur?containing molecules. We discussed the involved chemistry, mainly focusing on its applications to the construction of sulfur?containing heterocyclic compounds including the thiophene and 1,3?thiazole families and other different sulfur?nitrogen and sulfur?oxygen heterocycles which continue to be a pillar of organic synthesis as a result of their broad application in organic and medicinal chemistry.