Synthesis of 4-acetyl-2(3H)-benzothiazolone: Sulfur bioisostere of benzoxazolone allelochemicals

A multi-step methodology for the synthesis of 4-acetyl-2(3H)-benzothiazolone was developed in order to prepare a new biomimetic analogue of benzoxazolone allelochemicals. The compound was prepared from commercially available o-toluidine in 23% overall yield. The structure of 4-acethyl-2(3H)-benzothiazolone was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.