Abstract Bis(trifluoromethylthiyl)trithiocarbonate shows electronic transitions at 496 nm (nπ*), 299 nm {ππ*) and 259 (nσ*). Photolysis with 254 and 300 nm light at 200 and 309 K in pentane, and at 371 K in heptane yields a mixture of CS2 and perfluorinated compounds such as F3CSCF3, F3CSSCF3, (F3CS)3C-C(SCF3)3, (F3CS)2C=C(SCF3)2, (F3CS)3CH and F3CS-substituted solvent. The concentration of these newly formed products versus time of irradiation has been monitored. The primary photochemical process is the intramolecular decomposition into CS2 and F3CS- and F3O radicals which dimerize in a solvent cage. The formation of (F3CS)3C-C(SCF3)3 is interpreted in terms of a competition between this combination process and trapping of trifluoromethyl radicals by (FsCS)2CS, forming (F3CS)3C-, which subsequently dimerizes. On irradiation at 496 nm (nπ*) no photochemical process has been observed