Ru(III)-catalyzed oxidative reaction in ionic liquid: an efficient and practical route to 2-substituted benzothiazoles and their hybrids with pyrimidine nucleoside

An efficient, practical and environmentally benign synthesis of 2-substituted benzothiazoles was developed through RuCl3-catalyzed oxidative condensation of 2-aminothiophenol with aldehyde in ionic liquid by using air as the oxidant. With this procedure, a series of 2-substituted benzothiazoles and benzothiazole/pyrimidine nucleoside hybrids with antimicrobial activities were efficiently prepared from easily accessible starting materials.