A simple, efficient synthesis of 2-(1, 2-dithiolan-3-yl) acetic acid from Meldrum's acid, acrolein and thioacetic acid is described. The isopropyldene 2, 4-bis (acetylthio) butane-1, 1- dicarboxylate formed in the three-component, single container process, can be methanolized to the corresponding dimethyl ester and then hydrolyzed, oxidized to the disulfide and decarboxylated to 2-(1, 2-dithiolan-3-yl) acetic acid. The acid can be ...