1,1-ethanedithiol

Ethane-1,1-dithiol is an organosulfur compound with formula CH3CH(SH)2. It is a colourless smelly liquid that is added to or found in some foods. The compound is an example of a geminal dithiol.

==Use== Flavouring uses of ethane-1,1-dithiol may include drinks, oil, gravy, soup, meat, fruit, seasonings, and snacks. Maximum concentrations in use that are generally recognised as safe (GRAS) is five parts per million (ppm) but typical uses are around 0.2 ppm. It is supplied as a 1% solution in ethanol, due to its strong offensive smell. In the diluted form with 4% ethyl acetate and ethanol the CAS number is 69382-62-3. Toxicity may be due to metabolism products hydrogen sulfide and acetaldehyde, however as used it has a margin of safety of over 10,000,000. Other ways that it is modified in the body apart from hydrolysis is methylation to 1-methylsulfanyl-ethanethiol, oxidation of the sulfur to an ethyl sulfonate, glucuronidation of the sulfur, or combination with cysteine by way of a disulfide bridge.