Elemental sulfur mediated cyclization via redox strategy: Synthesis of benzothiazoles from o-chloronitrobenzenes and benzyl chlorides.

A novel metal-free synthesis of 2-substituted benzothiazoles from easily available o -chloronitrobenzenes and benzyl chlorides using elemental sulfur as traceless oxidizing agent has been developed. The protocol provides a simple, efficient, and atom-economic way to access to benzothiazoles in moderate to excellent yields. And the approach exhibited good functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]