Synthesis of 2-mercaptobenzothiazoles via DBU-promoted tandem reaction of o-haloanilines and carbon disulfide.

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of a variety of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole derivatives has been developed. The reaction proceeded from o-haloaniline derivatives and carbon disulfide via a tandem reaction in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) to afford the corresponding 2-mercaptobenzothiazole derivatives in good to excellent yields.