Merrifield resin supported phenanthroline–Cu(I): a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of 2-aminobenzothiazoles via the reaction of 2-haloanilines with isothiocyanates

A novel Merrifield resin supported phenanthroline–Cu(I) complex has been developed and used as a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst in the reaction of 2-halobenzenamines with isothiocyanates for the synthesis of 2-aminobenzothiazoles. The reactions were applicable to a variety of 2-halobenzenamines and isothiocyanates, and generated the corresponding 2-aminobenzothiazoles in good yields under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the catalyst was quantitatively recovered from the reaction mixture by a simple filtration and reused for ten cycles with almost consistent activity.