Efficient 2-aryl benzothiazole formation from acetophenones, anilines, and elemental sulfur by iodine-catalyzed oxidative C(CO)-C(alkyl) bond cleavage

Abstract

A novel and efficient iodine-catalyzed one-pot reaction of aromatic amines, acetophenones, and elemental sulfur for the synthesis of 2-aryl benzothiazoles is described. The process involves sequential C−S and C-N bond formation followed by C(CO)−C bond cleavage from readily accessible starting materials. A wide range of functional groups is tolerated under oxidant and metal-free condition and moderate to good product yields are obtained.