An efficient method
has been developed to afford highly C-5 selective
olefination of thiazole derivatives utilizing a bifunctional template
in an intermolecular fashion. Coordinative interaction between the
substrates and the metal chelated template backbone plays a crucial
role in high C-5 selectivity. Excellent selectivity for the C-5 position
was observed while mono substituted (2- or 4-) or even more challenging
unsubstituted thiazoles were employed.