Selective Access to 4‑Substituted 2‑Aminothiazoles and 4‑Substituted 5-Thiocyano-2-aminothiazoles from Vinyl Azides and Potassium Thiocyanate Switched by Palladium and Iron Catalysts

A highly selective construction of 4-substituted 2-aminothiazoles and 4-substituted 5-thiocyano-2-aminothiazoles, respectively, catalyzed by palladium­(II) acetate and promoted by iron­(III) bromide from vinyl azides and potassium thiocyanate has been developed. Use of readily available starting materials, high selectivity, as well as mild reaction conditions make this practical method particularly attractive.