Efficient 2-aryl benzothiazole formation from aryl ketones and 2-aminobenzenethiols under metal-free conditions.

2-Aryl benzothiazole formation from aryl ketones and 2-aminobenzenethiols under metal- and I(2)-free conditions was described. Various 2-aryl benzothiazoles were selectively obtained in good yields using molecular oxygen as oxidant. DMSO played an important role in this transformation. Functional groups such as methyl, methoxy, fluoro, chloro, bromo and nitro groups were tolerated under the optimized reaction conditions.