The synthesis of a wide variety of 3-[N-(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl) acylamino] propionamides IV and [l-(2-substituted ethyl)-1-(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl)-3-substituted] ureas V as potential antibacterial and antiparasitic agents is described. Treatment of 2-bromo-5-nitrothiazole with 3- aminopropionitrile afforded 3-[(S-nitro-2-thiazolyl) amino] propionitrile (l), the key intermediate. Some of the compounds prepared showed potent schistosomicidal, ...