A Convenient Synthetic Method of 2-Cyano-6-methoxybenzothiazole, –A Key Intermediate for the Synthesis of Firefly Luciferin

Abstract The title compound was prepared in one step from commercially available 2-amino-6-methoxybenzothiazole by using the Sandmeyer cyanation reaction. The result enabled us to synthesize firefly luciferin effectively from this amino compound through three steps in 36% overall yield.