Types of dehydrosulphidation reactions and catalysts

Dehydrosulphidation of thiols and sulphides is directly analogous to dehydration of alcohols and ethers. Thiols (mercaptans) yield both alkenes and sulphides 

The reactions are reversible and the equilibrium is less favourable for the decomposition of a thiol to an alkene and H2S than of the corresponding alcohol to an alkene and H20 under the same conditions data on equilibria in the reactions of propene with water [245] and with hydrogen sulphide [246] indicate that the equilibrium constant of propene hydration is smaller than that for propene sulphidation by approximately two orders of magnitude. 

The same catalysts as for dehydration are suitable for the dehydrosulphidation, i.e. alumina, silica—alumina, zeolites, metal oxides and metal sulphides. (For a comparison of their activities, see ref. 247.) 

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