Iodine-catalyzed amination of benzothiazoles with KSeCN in water to access primary 2-aminobenzothiazoles

A facile and sustainable approach for the amination of benzothiazoles with KSeCN using iodine as the catalyst in water has been disclosed under transition-metal free conditions. The reaction proceeded smoothly to afford various primary 2-amino benzothiazoles in up to 96% yield. A series of control experiments were performed, suggesting a ring-opening mechanism was involved via a radical process. This protocol provides efficient synthesis of primary 2-aminobenzothiazoles (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.