N-Phenyltriazolinedione as an initiator in the radical addition of thiophenol to alkenes

N-Phenyltriazolinedione is found to be an efficient initiator in the radical (anti-Markovnikov) addition of thiophenol to 2-methyl-2-butene. A second, minor, product (an alcohol, from oxygen addition) was also obtained, and a possible mechanistic scheme is proposed.