| abstract |
A process for preparing 2-mercaptobenzothiazole or a benzo-ring-substituted 2-mercaptobenzothiazole is provided wherein (i) a substrate selected from aniline, a ring-substituted aniline, an appropriate precursor, an appropriate derivative thereof, or mixtures thereof, (ii) carbon disulphide and (iii) sulphur, are reacted under conventional conditions in the presence of a catalyst, the catalyst being an acid, acidic substance or acid-forming substance selected from the group comprising a carboxylic acid, an inorganic or organic acid, an anhydride or mixed anhydride of these acids, a Lewis-acid or a Lewis-acid in the presence of a co-catalyst, a solid acidic inorganic material, a hydroxy-aryl derivative and one or more halogens, or any mixture thereof. |