Thermolysis of N-phenyl-O-phenylthiocarbamate (POPTC), N-phenyl-O-benzylthi
ocarbamate (POBTC), and N-phenyl-S-phenylthiocarbamate (PSPN3) by reflux fo
r 15 hr at 220-230 degreesC affords degradation products assumed to be form
ed by homolysis at different sites furnishing free radicals that undergo su
bsequent reactions involving H-abstraction, dimerization, disproportionatio
n and/or fragmentation to give the identified products. Similar results are
also obtained on photolysis of such thiocarbamate derivatives.