2-Hydroxyethyldisulfide (HEDS) is an organosulfur compound ​that belongs to the class ofdialkyl disulfides and has a disulfide bond -S-S- between two hydroxyethylgroups. In material science, HEDS is used as a precursor to form self-assembledmonolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces for applications such as corrosionprotection, lubrication, and sensors. In addition, 2-hydroxyethyl disulfide isalso used as a reducing agent in organic synthesis and as a crosslinking agentin the production of rubber compounds.

2-Hydroxyethyl disulfide can be used as:

• A chain extender in the preparation of waterborne self-healing polyurethane, which is used in leather coating.
• As a precursor in the synthesis of multifunctional initiator, which is used in the preparation of star polystyrenes by atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene.
• A starting material to prepare a disulfide-based branching agent. This branching agent is used to synthesize highly branched poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate).