Cook-Heilbron 5-amino-thiazole synthesis

The Cook-Heilbron reaction involves the reaction of a-aminonitriles with salts and esters of dithioacids, carbon disulfide, carbon oxysulfide, and isothiocyanates under extremely mild conditions to form 5-aminothiazoles. 

Prior to the 1947 report by Cook and Heilbron on their novel synthesis, 5-aminothiazoles were mostly unknown in the literature. Previous syntheses included the Curtius degradation of ethyl thiazole-5-carboxylates which did not have general applicability there was also difficultly in obtaining the necessary starting materials. During a study on penicillin, Cook and Heilbron found that the reaction between methyl dithiophenylacetate and ethyl aminocyanoacetate gave what was initially believed to be ethyl phenylthionacetamidocyanoacetate 4. However further studies proved the compound to be 5-amino-4-carbethoxy-2-benzyl-thiazole 5, which was basic. 

The mechanism of the Cook-Heilbron reaction between a-aminonitriles and dithioformic ester 6 proceeds via an acyclic intermediate 7, as proven by its isolation in several cases. Nucleophilic attack of the amine function on the sulfur-bearing carbon leads to the elimination of hydrogen sulphide. Cyclization of the acyclic thiacetoamide results in a five membered ring which aromatises favourably to give 5-amino-2-benzylthiazole 8. 

The reaction of a-aminonitriles and carbon disulphide was stated by Cook and Heilbron to give 5-amino-2-mercaptothiazoles however, they later found that the same reaction with aminoacetonitrile was more complex. When aminoacetonitrile sulphate in ethanolic solution was treated with carbon disulphide, the dithiodicarbamate 9 was formed. Benzylation was then carried out treatment of the resulting ester 10 with phosphorus tribromide with subsequent loss of water gave 5-amino-2-benzylthiothiazole 11 in a quantitative fashion. The rapid reaction was thought to be the first example of the formation of a 5-aminothiazole from an a-aminoamide. 

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The Cook-Heilbron synthesis yields 5-amonothiazoles with various substituents on the 2-position of the thiazole. Such a construction is brought about under mild conditions by reacting a-amino nitrile with salts and esters of dithioacids, carbon disulfide, carbon oxysulfide, isothiocyanates, etc. It was discovered by Cook and Heilbron in 1947 prior to which 5-aminothiazoles were less known. 

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