O,O-Dimethyl-S-(phthalimido)methylphosphorodithioate (PMP) is changed into phosphine, phosphate, and phosphorothioate, when it is treated with metallic zinc in acidic medium after alkaline hydrolysis. The amount of phosphine evolved is about five times as much in sulfuric acid medium as it is in hydrochloric acid. When one micro mole of hydrolyzed PMP is treated with 8 grams of metallic zinc and 30 ml of 10 N-sulfuric acid, it is changed into 0.42 micro moles of phosphine, 0.14 micro moles of phosphorothioate, and 0.44 micro moles of phosphate.