Novel 1-phenethylimidazoles substituted at the position .beta. to the imidazole ring by an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl carbonate or a mono-, di-, or trithiocarbonate are useful as antimicrobial agents and as intermediates in the preparation of novel 1-phenethylimidazoles substituted at the position .beta. to the imidazole with a mercapto. Both the former and latter compounds are useful as intermediates in the preparation of certain 1-[.beta.-(R-thio)phenethyl]imidazoles.