Abstract Alkylation of 1-aryl-1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-3-ols with ethyl 2-bromopropionate under basic conditions resulted in the formation of 2-[(1-aryl-1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-3-yl) oxy] propionic acid, ethyl esters. No N-alkylated products were detected. Similar alkylation of 2-oxo-5- phenyl-1, 3, 4-thiazole and the corresponding 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole gave only N-alkylated derivatives. With 4-hydroxy-6-phenylpyrimidine and 2-oxo-4-phenylthiazole, both O-and N ...