NCS/TBHP promoted C2 arylation of benzothiazoles with aldehydes in DMSO

A N-chlorosuccinimide catalyzed oxidative synthesis of 2-aryl benzothiazole from benzothiazoles and aryl aldehydes using tert-butyl peroxybenzoate as an oxidant in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been developed in moderate to good yields. Solvent DMSO as a strong Lewis base plays an efficient role in the reaction. Various substrates were tolerated under optimized conditions affording the arylated products in 12–94% yields for 28 examples. Additionally, acylated benzothiazoles were produced with 4 examples.