Abstract: 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. Keywords: catalysis; copper; multi-component reactions; sulfur; thioamides