A one-pot synthesis of 2-aminothiazoles via the coupling of ketones and thiourea using I2/dimethyl sulfoxide as a catalytic oxidative system

A series of 2-aminothiazoles is prepared in moderate-to-good yields by the direct coupling of ketones and thiourea using I2/dimethyl sulfoxide as a catalytic oxidative system. This method avoids the preparation of lachrymatory and toxic α-haloketones and the use of an acid-binding agent, thus providing a more convenient approach to 2-aminothiazoles compared to the Hantzsch reaction.