A facile synthesis of 2-aminothiazolo[5,4-b]- and 2-aminothiazolo[4,5-c] pyridines

The hydrochlorides of the title compounds are obtained in moderate yields by refluxing 2-chloro-3-aminopyridine or 3-amino-4-chloropyridine, respectively, with an alkyl. Aralkyl-, or aryl isothiocyanate in absolute ethanol solution. A proof is presented that the 2-aminothiazolopyridine hydrochloride and not the isomeric o-chloropyridylthiourea is the product of this reaction. The free-bases may be obtained from the hydrochlorides with aqueous sodium bicarbonate. A mechanism for the formation of the thiazole ring is briefly considered. The interactions of 2-chloro-3-aminopyridine with l-substituted-5-mereapto-1H-tetrazoles are also described.