Propionamide → 2-(2-Ethyl-4-methyl-thiazol-5-yl)-ethanol

Propionamide (20 grams, 0.27 moles) and dried THF (150 grams) were added to a 500 ml three-neck flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a condenser and a thermometer. The mixture was stirred and 18 grams of phosphorus pentasulfide (0.08 moles) were added over a time period of 30 minutes while keeping the temperature between 20–25° C. The reaction mixture was then refluxed for 2 hours and was thereafter cooled to room temperature. 57.8 grams of 5-acetoxy-3-chloro-2-pentanone were then added, over a time period of 15 minutes, and the reaction mixture was allowed to reflux for 20 hours. Thereafter, the THF was removed by distillation at atmospheric pressure, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25° C., 120 grams of hydrochloric acid (10%) were added, and the mixture was brought back to reflux for 1 additional hour. After cooling to room temperature the reaction mixture was extracted with two portions of 50 grams of dichloromethane to remove excess starting materials. The acidic aqueous phase was turned basic with a 20% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and the resulting thiazole was extracted with three portions of 75 grams of dichloromethane. The dichloromethane extracts were combined and dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness. The residue was distilled under vacuum at 0.5 mmHg to yield 20 grams of pale yellow oil (43.3% yield) having a purity of 98.9%, as determined by gas chromatography.