Y. Aso et al., MILD AND EFFICIENT DEHYDROSULFURIZATION OF THIOAMIDES TO NITRILES INDUCED BY TELLURIUM OR SELENIUM TETRACHLORIDE WITH TRIETHYLAMINE, Journal of chemical research. Synopses, (4), 1995, pp. 152-153
Tellurium tetrachloride or selenium tetrachloride in combination with
triethylamine reacts smoothly with primary thioamides at room temperat
ure to give nitriles in very high yields.