Synthesis of thiazole derivatives

A process for the preparation of N-›4-(cyanoethylthiomethyl)-2-thiazolyl!guanidine, which process comprises:

• a) mixing 1 ,3-dihaloacetone and 2-imino-4-thiobiuret in a chemically indifferent reaction medium comprising at least one polar organic solvent at one or more initial temperatures in the range of about -10.degree. to about 25.degree. C., and agitating the mixture at one or more temperatures in the range of about -10.degree. to about 60.degree. C. for a period of at least about 1 hour;
• b) heating the resultant mixture at one or more temperatures in the range of about 40.degree. to about 60.degree. C. for a period of at least about 0.5 hour;
• c) mixing with the mixture from b), thiourea and then water at one or more temperatures in the range of about 40.degree. to about 60.degree. C. for a period of at least about 1 hour;
• d) removing liquid polar solvent from the mixture of c);
• and
• e) mixing with the mixture from d), 3-halopropionitrile and at least one water-soluble alcohol, ether, or ether-alcohol, or a mixture of any two or more of them, followed by aqueous alkali metal hydroxide while maintaining the temperature at below about 20 .degree. C., to form N-›4-(cyanoethylthiomethyl)-2-thiazolyl!guanidine.