A highly efficient and simple method for the synthesis of 2-alkylbenzothiazoles through the condensation of 2-aminothiophenol and aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of active carbon/silica gel is described. The reaction proceeded under solvent-free and microwave irradiation to afford 2-alkylbenzothiazoles in high yields. This method was extended to the synthesis of bile acid derivatives containing a benzothiazole ring and obtained the desired products in high yields. The anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of the newly synthesized benzothiazole derivatives of bile acid were tested; the results showed that anti-inflammatory activities of all tested compounds tested were higher than that of standard drugs, such as indomethacin.
Keywords: 2-alkylbenzothiazole; active carbon/silica gel; bile acid; microwave; solvent-free.