Organolithium compounds which are stabilized by a phenylthio group lose the latter and form cyclopropanone phenylthioketals upon reaction with 1, 1-bis-(phenylthio)ethene; the latter is prepared by copper(I)-induced elimination of thiophenol from 1, 1, 1-tris(phenylthio) ethane, which is in turn generated by the reaction of acetic acid with a reagent formed by the reaction of trimethylaluminum with thiophenol. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.