An unusual oxidation of thiazol-2-ylmethanol in hydrolytic conditions

Abstract

The treatment of aryl and heteroaryl thiazol-2-ylmethanols with sulfuric acid in a dimethoxyethane–water mixture at 80 °C gave the corresponding ketone as the only product in good yields. All the data are in agreement with a mechanism involving the formation of a thiazoline as intermediate. Best yields can be obtained carrying out the reaction in the presence of oxygen, showing that this reagent oxidizes the thiazoline intermediate.