N-[4-(Hydroxymethyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-YL]acetamide → N-(4-Formyl-1,3-thiazol-2-YL)acetamide

To a solution of 2-acetylamino-4-hydroxymethylthiazole (41 g) in a mixture of chloroform (2870 ml) and methanol (164 ml) was added manganese dioxide (410 g) with vigorous stirring for 1 hour and 20 minutes. The reaction mixture was filtered and the residue was added to a mixture of chloroform and ethanol (410 ml, 10:1 V/V). The mixture was heated with stirring and filtered. The residue was washed with a mixture of chloroform and ethanol (160 ml, 10:1 V/V). Every filtrates and washings were combined and evaporated to give 2-acetylamino-4formylthiazole (35.04 g).