Simultaneous assembly of the β-lactam and thiazole moiety by a new multicomponent reaction

A novel multicomponent reaction of β-aminothiocarboxylic acids, aldehydes, and 3-dimethylamino-2-isocyanoacylate is described. During the course of this reaction two heterocyclic moieties, a thiazole and a β-lactam ring, are formed simultaneously and under mild conditions. The increase in molecular complexity here is dramatic as 2 CN, 2 CS and 1 CC bonds are formed in a new ‘one-pot’ multicomponent reaction.