<p>The present invention relates to a process for preparing dithioesters in which a dithiocarboxylic acid and/or a dithiocarboxylic salt is reacted with a vinyl compound and/or an alkyl compound which includes a leaving group, the reaction being carried out in a biphasic system in which one of the phases comprises water and the weight ratio of the aqueous phase to the organic phase lies in the range from 95:5 to 5:95.</p>
