Thiazolium azomethine ylides, equipped with a C-2 methanethiol group, participate in an efficient [3+ 2] cycloaddition reaction with acetylene derivatives to yield unique pyrrolo [2, 1- b] thiazoles. The elimination of the methanethiol leaving group from the cycloadduct has replaced the need for a separate oxidation step and suppresses ring-opening side reactions. Products were obtained in short synthetic sequences to demonstrate their use ...