[13] Organotin derivatives of thioglycolic acid isooctyl esters are widely used as stabilizers for PVC.

[17][18] Thioglycolic acid is prepared by reaction of sodium or potassium chloroacetate with alkali metal hydrosulfide in aqueous medium.

Thioglycolic acid reacts with diethyl acetylmalonate to form acetylmercaptoacetic acid and diethyl malonate, the reducing agent in the conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II).

[21] Scientist David R. Goddard, in the early 1930s, identified TGA as a useful reagent for reducing the disulfide bonds in proteins, including keratin (hair protein), while studying why protease enzymes could not easily digest hair, nails, feathers, and such.

He realized that while the disulfide bonds, which stabilize proteins by cross-linking, were broken, the structures containing these proteins could be reshaped easily, and that they would retain this shape after the disulfide bonds were allowed to re-form.

[24][25] MAA also has been identified by using potentiometric titration with silver nitrate solution.