and their N-methyl analogues were readily prepared from the corresponding 5-bromo-1,3-benzothiazol-2(3H)-ones by means of Stille and Suzuki reactions. The compounds were substituted at the C-5 position with vinyl, acyl, or aryl groups optionally carrying electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents. heterocycles - coupling - catalysis - benzothiazolones - Stille reaction