An efficient and convenient condensation reaction of 2-aminothiophenol with aldehydes catalyzed by a catalytic amount of ceric ammonium nitrate in polyethylene glycol was investigated. As a result, a set of diverse 2-substituted benzothiazoles such as 2-phenylbenzothiazole as well as its p-Me, p-NO 2 , p-F, p-Cl, p-Br, o-OMe, p-OMe and 2-furyl, 2-pyridyl and styryl derivatives were obtained in good to excellent yields for 5 h at room temperature. Additionally, the catalyst system was recovered and reused several times without evident loss in activity.