The recent advances in the synthetic methods of 2-substituent-benzothiazoles are reviewed. Many novel and efficient methods have been used to synthesize the aimed-products, such as solvent-free, solid phase, ionic liquid and microwave assisted, and the catalytic synthesis with the novel reagents of Pd, Cu, Mn, Sc etc. And the combination of these methods has drawn much attention of the investigator especially.

Key words: synthesis, benzothiazole, solvent-free, ionic liquid, microwave assisted, solid phase, catalyst