Microwave assisted C-S cross-coupling reaction from thiols and 2-(4-bromo phenyl)-benzothiazole employed by CuI in acetonitrile

A microwave assisted C-S and C-Se cross-coupling reaction was carried out in acetonitrile employing commercially available, low-cost CuI as the catalyst. A variety of substrates, including aryl, aliphatic, and heteroaryl thiols, were reacted with 2-(4-bromo phenyl)-benzothiazole, in acetonitrile using K2CO3 as the base under microwave assisted conditions at 80 degrees C, 200 W (100 psi) for 25-35 min, affording the required products in good to excellent yields. This is a novel approach, and we have synthesized a series of 17 new cross-coupled C-S and C-Se molecules.