In this study, a novel benzothiazol-and benzooxazol-2-amine scaffold with antibacterial activity was designed and synthesized. Preliminary structure–activity relationship analysis displayed that compound 8t with a 5, 6-difluorosubstituted benzothiazole was found to be a potent inhibitor of Gram-positive pathogens, and exhibited some potential against drug- resistant bacteria and without cytotoxicity in therapeutic concentrations. In addition, ...