Abstract: | A simple, fast and efficient benign procedure has been developed for one‐pot synthesis of 2‐substituted benzothiazoles in the presence of zirconium(IV) oxide chloride octahydrate (ZrOCl2·8H2O) and anhydrous copper(II) sulfate. The reaction of 2‐aminothiophenol with aldehydes and anhydrides was carried out efficiently in solvent‐free conditions with or without microwave irradiation, and adducts were produced in good to excellent yields. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 17:136–141, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20191 |