Copper(II)-Catalyzed Reactions of Dimethylformamide with Phenylacetonitrile and Sulfur to Form N,N-Dimethylthioamides

Novel copper-catalyzed three-component reactions of phenylacetonitrile, sulfur and DMF (dimethyformamide) for the selective preparation of N,N-dimethylthiobenzamide and N,N-dimethyl-2-phenylethanethioamides in yields of up to 96% are described.