Nitroimidazoles. VI. Syntheses of 1-methyl-2-(1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-5-nitroimidazole and 1-methyl-2-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-5-nitroimidazole

Starting from readily available 1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide (1), 1-methyl-2-(1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-5-nitroimidazole (4) and 1-methyl-2-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-5-nitroimidazole (10) were prepared. The reaction of 1 with formic acid gave 1-(1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-2-carboxyl)-2-(formyl)hydrazine ( 8 ) in high yield. Refluxing of the latter with phosphorus pentasulfide in xylene yielded compound 4 in 50% yield. Reaction of compound 8 with phosphorus pentoxide afforded compound 10 in 60% yield.