One distinguishing feature of the dithiolanes and dithianes derived from aldehydes is that the methyne group can be deprotonated and the resulting carbanion alkylated.
A key difference between dithiolanes and dithianes derived from aldehydes lies in their ability to undergo a process where the methylene group is removed as a proton, leaving behind a carbanion that can be further reacted with an alkylating agent.