December 21, 196d a-Cyanoalkyl thiocyanates, prepared from a-chloroalkyl and a-(4- toluenesulfonyloxy) alkyl cyanides, are shown to undergo cyclization to derivatives of 2- bromo4aminothiazole by means of hydrogen bromide. Hydrogen chloride is unsatisfactory as a cyclizing agent whereas hydrogen iodide causes further reduction and lea& directly to derivatives of the previously inaccessible 4-aminothiazoles. Attempts to apply this ...