Dithiete is an unsaturated heterocyclic compound that contains two adjacent sulfur atoms and two sp2-hybridized carbon centers.
With 6 π electrons, 1,2-dithietes are examples of aromatic organosulfur compounds.
A few 1,2-dithietes have been isolated;[1][2][3] one (low-yielding) route is oxidation of a dithiolene complex.
The open ring isomer, dithioglyoxal, HC(S)C(S)H, is less stable than the 1,2-dithiete.
[6] Quantum chemical calculations reproduce the observed greater stability of 1,2-dithiete only if large basis-sets with polarization functions are used.