Substrate-assisted rhodium-catalyzed CH bond cyanation of 2-arylbenzothiazoles

•CH Bond cyanation of 2-arylbenzothiazoles.•Broad functional groups tolerance with moderate to excellent yields.•Regioselective cyanation was in favor of the less sterically hindered position.•Cyanated products show potent biological activity.

A mild and efficient substrate-assisted CH bond cyanation of 2-arylbenzothiazoles has been developed using CuCN as cyano-group source. The reaction exhibits broad functional groups tolerance giving the desired products in moderate to excellent yields. Regioselective cyanation was in favor of the less sterically hindered position to those meta-substituted substrate.

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