Catalytic Dehydrosulfurization of Thioamides to Nitriles by Gold Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotubes

International audienceA gold‐carbon nanotube nanohybrid was shown to act as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the smooth and selective conversion of thioamides to the corresponding nitriles. The reaction was performed under mild conditions (room temperature, atmospheric pressure of oxygen) using only a gold loading of 0.35 mol %. Substituted aromatic or aliphatic nitriles were produced in very good to excellent yields and the catalyst could be easily recycled and reused over several consecutive cycles with no loss in dehydrosulfurization performances