4,5-Dihydro-2-(methylthio)thiazole → 1-(4,5-Dihydrothiazol-2-yl)azetidin-3-ol

To a solution of 109 mg of 3-hydroxyazetidine HCl [Compound (15)] in 5 ml of ethanol was added a mixture of 133 mg of 2-methylthiothiazoline [Compound (16)] and sodium methoxide (0.9 equivalent mole), and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 8 hours. After removal of the solvent under reduced pressure, the resulting residue was dissolved in chloroform and washed with saturated saline solution. After removal of the solvent under reduced pressure, the resulting residue was washed with diethylether to give 119 mg (81.5%) of 3-hydroxy-1-(thiazolin-2-yl)azetidine [Compound (17)] as crystals.