Concise Access to 2‑Aroylbenzothiazoles by Redox Condensation Reaction between <i>o</i>‑Halonitrobenzenes, Acetophenones, and Elemental Sulfur

A wide range of 2-aroylbenzothiazoles <b>3</b> including some pharmacologically relevant derivatives can be obtained in high yields by simply heating <i>o</i>-halonitrobenzenes <b>1</b>, acetophenones <b>2</b>, elemental sulfur, and <i>N</i>-methylmorpholine. This three-component nitro methyl coupling was found to occur in an excellent atom-, step-, and redox-efficient manner in which elemental sulfur played the role of nucleophile building block and redox moderating agent to fulfill electronic requirements of the global reaction