‘On water’ synthesis of 2,4-diaryl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepines catalysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)

An efficient synthesis of 1,3-diaryl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepines has been developed by the reaction of various 1,3-diaryl-2-propenones with 2-aminothiophenol in water under neutral conditions catalysed by SDS. Excellent chemoselectivity was observed for substrates possessing halogen atoms or nitro/alkoxy/thioalkyl groups which did not undergo competitive aromatic nucleophilic substitution of the halogen atoms or the nitro group, reduction of the nitro or the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group, or dealkylation of the alkoxy/thioalkoxy groups.