An efficient copper-catalyzed synthesis of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole through S-arylation/heterocyclization of 2-haloaniline with potassium xanthate

A mild and efficient methodology to produce 2-mercaptobenzothiazoles in DMF via ortho-haloaniline coupling with potassium O-ethyl dithiocarbonate catalyzed by copper without a ligand has been developed.