Efficient and convenient synthesis of pyrido[2,1-b]benzothiazole, pyrimidopyrido[2,1-b] benzothiazole and benzothiazolo[3,2-a][1,8] naphthyridine derivatives Abstract: New 3-aryl-pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole derivatives 2a-e were synthesized in excellent yields via the reaction of benzothiazoleacetonitrile (1) with different aromatic aldehydes. The treatment of 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)acrylonitrile (6) with malononitrile afforded 1-amino-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-3H-pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole-2,4-dicarbonitrile (7), which was allowed to react with a variety of reagents to provide pyrimido[5′,4′:5,6]pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole 8, 9 and [1,3]benzothiazolo[3,2-a][1,8] naphthyridine 10, 15 derivatives. All synthesized products were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, 1 H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectral data.