Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Redox-Neutral Ring Opening of Benzothiazoles to 1‑Amino‑<i>N</i>‑(2-(phenylthio)phenyl)methanimine

Copper-catalyzed three-component redox-neutral ring opening of benzothiazoles with aryl iodides and O-benzoyl hydroxylamines for the synthesis of 1-amino-N-(2-(phenylthio)­phenyl)­methanimine has been developed. This one-pot reaction undergoes C–S and N–O bond cleavage and new C–S and C–N bond construction. Several control experiments excluded a free radical procedure and also demonstrated the secondary amine as a possible intermediate, which was vital to the catalytic reaction. Meanwhile, the deuteration experiment got rid of the C–H activation dehydroisomerization of the benzothiazole mechanism.