[GRAPHICS] A new and facile approach to 4-alkylthio-1,3-dithiole-2-thione starting from easily accessible reactants was described, This approach was based on the unusual reaction of a zinc complex of 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate with electrophilic reagents in the presence of 3-picolyl chloride hydrochloride/or 4-picolyl chloride hydrochloride/or pyridine hydrochloride.