We report herein a direct synthetic route for the preparation of 2-arylbenzothiazoles using aryl isothiocyanates and electron-rich arenes. The synthetic route involves triflic acid promoted addition of the arenes to aryl isothiocyanates followed by FeCl3-catalyzed C–S bond formation via C–H functionalization. The approach provides the advantage of synthesis of benzothiazoles without the conventional use of aryl aldehyde/carboxylic acid precursors employing the less expensive iron(III) catalyst.