Propane-1,3-dithiol is the parent member of this series. It is employed as a reagent in organic chemistry, since it forms 1,3-dithianes upon treatment with ketones and aldehydes.  When derived from aldehydes, the methyne () group is sufficiently acidic that it can be deprotonated and the resulting anion can be C-alkylated.  The process is the foundation of the umpolung phenomenon.
Like 1,2-ethanedithiol, propanedithiol forms complexes with metals, for example with triiron dodecacarbonyl:
A naturally occurring 1,3-dithiol is dihydrolipoic acid.  
1,3-Dithiols oxidize to give 1,2-dithiolanes.