Photochemical desulfurization of phenolic thioethers, thiols and disulfides

Photolysis of alkylthiodihydroxybenzenes and related thiols and disulfides under argon proceeds with partial desulfurization to give the parent hydroxybenzenes in 13-36% yield. Under the same conditions, benzenethiol decomps. slowly to give low amts. of benzene. Irradn. of sulfides I (R = H, Me) results in the selective cleavage of the C-S bond on the hydroxy- or methoxy-substituted ring to yield the desulfurized products in more than 60% yield.