Novel one-step method for the conversion of isothiocyanates to 2-alkyl(aryl)aminothiazoles

2-Aminothiazole derivatives are widely used structural motifs in medicinal chemistry due to their broad application in drug development. Herein we demonstrate a novel one-step method for the synthesis of 2-aminothiazole derivatives from the corresponding isothiocyanates via thiourea formation followed by cycloisomerisation in an intramolecular thia-Michael fashion. This method is very mild, simple and highly efficient and versatile enough to accommodate various amino substitutions at the C2 position of thiazoles. This methodology is equally well applicable to synthesise various 2-substituted amino-5-thiazolylmethylphosphonate derivatives.