Cycloaddition reactions of thiazolium azomethine ylides: application to pyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazoles

Thiazolium azomethine ylides, equipped with a C-2 methanethiol group, participate in an efficient 3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with acetylene derivatives to yield unique pyrrolo2,1-b]thiazoles. The elimination of the methanethiol leaving group from the cycloadduct has replaced the need for a separate oxidation step and suppresses ring-opening side reactions. Products were obtained in short synthetic sequences to demonstrate their use as a scaffold for compound libraries.