The phenolysis of 3-nitrophenyl 4-cyanophenyl thionocarbonate (1) and 4-nitrophenyl 4-cyanophenyl thionocarbonate (2) are subjected to a kinetic investigation in order to evaluate the nucleofugality of the corresponding leaving groups. For the reaction of 2 only 4-nitrophenoxide is obtained as leaving group. For the reaction of 1 the nucleofugality ratio 3-nitrophenoxide/4-cyanophenoxide is 1/3 from the corresponding T intermediate. Theoretical calculations confirm the experimental results. From these results it can be concluded that the non-leaving group affects the nucleofugality ratio. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.