Synthesis of 34 2-substituted benzothiazole compounds with an acetic acid function at the 5 or 6 position was carried out and their antiinflammatory activity was investigated. It was found that the presence of an acetic acid function was important for antiinflammatory activity and also that 2-substituted 5-benzothiazoleacetic acids (6) were better than 2-substituted 6- benzothiazoleacetic acids (7) in antiinflammatory activity