Process for the preparation of 2-chloro-5-chloromethyl-thiazole

A process for preparing the compound of the formula

• which comprises
• a) reacting a compound of the formula
• In the presence of absence of a free-radical catalyst, with a chlorinating agent,
• Or
• b1) first reacting the compound of the formula II or the compound 2-mercapto-5-methyl-thiazole, in each case in free form or in salt form, with a chlorinating agent and
• b2) subjecting the compound of the formula III, which is obtainable in this way, to further reaction, with or without isolating it, with a chlorinating agent in accordance with variant a), wherein compound of formula II is
• or
• c1) first subjecting a salt of the formula
• in which M+ is an alkali metal ion, one equivalent of an alkaline earth metal ion or is a nonalkylated ammonium ion or an ammonium ion which is alkylated with from one to four identical or different alkyl radicals, and is preferably a potassium ion or, in particular, a sodium ion, to treatment with a base
• (c2) subjecting the compound of the formula II thus obtainable, in free form or in salt form, with or without isolating it, to further reaction with a chlorinating agent in accordance with variant b1)/b2),
• or
• d1) first reacting the compound of the formula
• with carbon disulfide, in the presence or absence of a base, and
• d2) further reacting the compound of the formula II thus obtainable, in free form or in salt form, with or without isolating it, with a chlorinating agent in accordance with variant b1)/b2).