Summary. Water has been found for the first time as a useful solvent in the Willgerodt- Kindler (WK) reaction for the synthesis of benzothiomorpholides in high yield at 80° C for 3 h. This novel approach confronts the WK protocol with a new situation in which water not only is not regarded as a serious disadvantage but also is applied in this case as a useful solvent in the reaction. The basis of this finding is the presence of a methylene chain in the ...