Efficient sodium bisulfite-catalyzed synthesis of benzothiazoles and their potential as ureases inhibitors

In this work we report the successful use of sodium bisulfite as catalyst for the synthesis of 19 benzothiazoles ( BZTs ) under microwave irradiation with yields from 80% to 100%. BZT-15 was the most active jack bean urease inhibitor exhibiting a mechanism of action typically of a mixed inhibitor. Its affinity to bind urease active site is 3-fold higher than that to bind allosteric site(s). The BZTs 2 , 8–10 , 15 and 16 are described for the first time as soil ureases inhibitors. Overall, these results show the potential of BZTs to be used either as lead compound for the design of drugs for treating urease-induced diseases or as additive in urea-based fertilizers to improve N input in soils used for crop production.