Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Preparation and Reactions of Thiols02:33

Preparation and Reactions of Thiols

6.1K
Thiols are prepared using the hydrosulfide anion as a nucleophile in a nucleophilic substitution reaction with alkyl halides. For instance, bromobutane reacts with sodium hydrosulfide to give butanethiol.
6.1K
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides02:26

Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides

4.8K
Sulfides are the sulfur analog of ethers, just as thiols are the sulfur analog of alcohol. Like ethers, sulfides also consist of two hydrocarbon groups bonded to the central sulfur atom. Depending upon the type of groups present, sulfides can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Symmetrical sulfides can be prepared via an SN2 reaction between 2 equivalents of an alkyl halide and one equivalent of sodium sulfide.
4.8K
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Elimination–Addition01:11

Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Elimination–Addition

4.0K
Simple aryl halides do not react with nucleophiles. However, nucleophilic aromatic substitutions can be forced under certain conditions, such as high temperatures or strong bases. The mechanism of substitution under such conditions involves the highly unstable and reactive benzyne intermediate. Benzyne contains equivalent carbon centers at both ends of the triple bond, each of which is equally susceptible to nucleophilic attack. This 50–50 distribution of products is...
4.0K
Preparation of 1° Amines: Gabriel Synthesis01:28

Preparation of 1° Amines: Gabriel Synthesis

3.5K
Direct alkylation is not a suitable method for synthesizing amines because it produces polyalkylated products. Gabriel synthesis is the most preferred method to exclusively make primary amines. The method uses phthalimide, which contains a protected form of nitrogen that participates in alkylation only once to predominantly give primary amines.
Strong bases like NaOH or KOH deprotonate the phthalimide to form the corresponding anion, which acts as a nucleophile. Further, the anion attacks an...
3.5K
Structure and Nomenclature of Thiols and Sulfides02:17

Structure and Nomenclature of Thiols and Sulfides

4.6K
Thiols and sulfides are sulfur analogs of alcohols and ethers, respectively, where the sulfur atom takes the place of the oxygen atom. Thus, thiols are generally represented as RSH, where R is an alkyl substituent and —SH is the functional group. On the other hand, in sulfides, the central sulfur atom is bonded to two hydrocarbon groups on either side. Depending upon the type of group, sulfides can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. Both thiols and sulfides display a bent geometry,...
4.6K
Preparation of 1° Amines: Azide Synthesis01:22

Preparation of 1° Amines: Azide Synthesis

3.9K
Direct alkylation of ammonia produces polyalkylated amines, along with a quaternary ammonium salt. To exclusively prepare primary amines, the azide synthesis method can be used.
Azide ions act as good nucleophiles and react with unhindered alkyl halides to form alkyl azides. Alkyl azides do not participate in further nucleophilic substitution reactions, thereby eliminating the chances of polyalkylated products. Alkyl azides are reduced by hydride-based reducing agents, like lithium aluminum...
3.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A native sulfur deposit in Gale crater, Mars.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Diverse organic molecules on Mars revealed by the first SAM TMAH experiment.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Multiple formation pathways for amino acids in the early Solar System based on carbon and nitrogen isotopes in asteroid Bennu samples.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Does the Measured Abundance Suggest a Biological Origin for the Ancient Alkanes Preserved in a Martian Mudstone?

Astrobiology·2026
Same author

Oxygen isotopic evidence that Gale crater, Mars, was home to an Early Hesperian water reservoir that underwent significant evaporation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Slow Radiolysis of Amino Acids in Mars-Like Permafrost Conditions: Applications to the Search for Extant Life on Mars.

Astrobiology·2025
Same journal

Acid neutralization and metal mobilization in oil sands froth treatment tailings.

Geochemical transactions·2025
Same journal

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) adsorption on Fe-rich mineral assemblages and soils: experiments and surface complexation modeling.

Geochemical transactions·2025
Same journal

Sulfate-based coagulants can suppress methanogenesis in treated oil sands fine tailings.

Geochemical transactions·2025
Same journal

Geochemical processes and groundwater quality assessment in the Yamuna-Hindon interfluve region of Bagpat district, Western Uttar Pradesh, India.

Geochemical transactions·2025
Same journal

Development of a kinetic-thermodynamic model for lime-stabilization of Na-bentonite.

Geochemical transactions·2025
Same journal

Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India.

Geochemical transactions·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2025

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
12:30

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Published on: April 9, 2018

9.0K

Prebiotic thiol-catalyzed thioamide bond formation.

Andrew S Hyde1, Christopher H House2

  • 1Department of Geosciences and Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, PA, USA. akh5390@psu.edu.

Geochemical Transactions
|August 4, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Thioamides, crucial prebiotic molecules, can now form readily from nitriles using a simple thiol catalyst. This finding suggests thioamides were abundant on early Earth, potentially fueling chemical evolution.

Keywords:
Hydrogen cyanideOrigin of lifeProto-metabolismThioformamide

More Related Videos

Constructing Thioether/Vinyl Sulfide-tethered Helical Peptides Via Photo-induced Thiol-ene/yne Hydrothiolation
11:09

Constructing Thioether/Vinyl Sulfide-tethered Helical Peptides Via Photo-induced Thiol-ene/yne Hydrothiolation

Published on: August 1, 2018

10.7K
Synthesis and Bioconjugation of Thiol-Reactive Reagents for the Creation of Site-Selectively Modified Immunoconjugates
08:47

Synthesis and Bioconjugation of Thiol-Reactive Reagents for the Creation of Site-Selectively Modified Immunoconjugates

Published on: March 6, 2019

9.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2025

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
12:30

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Published on: April 9, 2018

9.0K
Constructing Thioether/Vinyl Sulfide-tethered Helical Peptides Via Photo-induced Thiol-ene/yne Hydrothiolation
11:09

Constructing Thioether/Vinyl Sulfide-tethered Helical Peptides Via Photo-induced Thiol-ene/yne Hydrothiolation

Published on: August 1, 2018

10.7K
Synthesis and Bioconjugation of Thiol-Reactive Reagents for the Creation of Site-Selectively Modified Immunoconjugates
08:47

Synthesis and Bioconjugation of Thiol-Reactive Reagents for the Creation of Site-Selectively Modified Immunoconjugates

Published on: March 6, 2019

9.4K

Area of Science:

  • Prebiotic chemistry
  • Origin of life studies
  • Biomolecule formation

Background:

  • Thioamide bonds are vital intermediates in prebiotic chemistry.
  • They are precursors to amino acids, purines, and pyrimidines.
  • Previous thioamide synthesis required excess sulfide or unknown precursors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a new method for thioamide bond formation under prebiotic conditions.
  • To explore the catalytic role of thiols in thioamide synthesis.
  • To assess the energetic relevance of thioformamide in early Earth chemistry.

Main Methods:

  • Described thiol-catalyzed formation of thioamide bonds from nitriles.
  • Utilized spark-discharge experiments with hydrogen cyanide, sulfide, and methanethiol.
  • Measured the Gibbs energy of hydrolysis for thioformamide.

Main Results:

  • Thioamide bonds formed readily from nitriles via thiol catalysis.
  • Thioformamide synthesized efficiently in spark-discharge experiments.
  • Thioformamide's hydrolysis energy is comparable to other early Earth energy currencies.

Conclusions:

  • Thiol-catalyzed thioamide formation offers a plausible prebiotic pathway.
  • Thioamides may have been abundant and functionally important on early Earth.
  • This work provides insights into the chemical evolution leading to life.