The starting material 2-bromo-5-nitrothiazole was prepared by treating 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole (Aldrich) with sodium nitrite and hydrogen bromide (Fr. Demande 2,015,434, 1970). 3-Phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione (E. Hogarth, J. Chem. Soc. (1949) 1163) was prepared by first reacting benzoyl chloride with thiosemicarbazide in pyridine at 0° C. to give benzoyl thiosemicarbazide. Benzoyl thiosemicarbazide was treated with potassium hydroxide in ethanol to give 3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione. 3-Phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione (1.77 g) was then dissolved in 50 mL of methanol and treated with 0.57 g of 95% sodium methoxide, and then with 2-bromo-5-nitrothiazole (2.09 g). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and the precipitated sodium bromide was removed by filtration. The methanol was evaporated and the product crystallized from ethanol and water to give 1.5 g of 3-[(5-nitrothiazol-2-yl)mercapto]-5-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole, a white solid, MP 155°-157° C.
