Synthesis of the marine sponge derived beta2-adrenoceptor agonist S1319

[reaction: see text] The marine sponge derived beta2-adrenoceptor agonist S1319 has been synthesized following a six-step linear sequence. Central to the approach employed is the formation of a 7-lithiated-2,4-dialkoxybenzothiazole intermediate obtained via a directed-lithiation/benzyne-mediated cyclization reaction. The incorporation of a tert-butyl ether residue into the cyclization precursor for the pivotal ring-closing step has been shown to significantly increase the efficiency of the reaction by the suppression of a competing directed ortho-lithiation reaction.