Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Thiazole Scaffolds and Their Substituted Analogues

Abstract

Thiazole is a versatile sulfur‐ and nitrogen‐containing heterocycle that occupies a prominent position in medicinal, natural‐product, and materials chemistry. Its highly tunable structure is found in numerous bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals, while thiazole derivatives exhibit diverse biological activities. Their distinctive electronic characteristics have also enabled applications in chemosensing and functional materials. Despite extensive research on thiazole synthesis, an up‐to‐date and integrated assessment of emerging synthetic strategies and their sustainability remains limited. This review addresses this gap by critically examining the evolution of thiazole synthesis from classical approaches to contemporary catalytic (transition metal‐catalyzed or metal‐free), photocatalytic, multicomponent, microwave‐assisted, and nano/heterogeneous methods, with emphasis on mechanistic insights, substrate scope, efficiency, sustainability, and limitations. The review further highlights current challenges and future opportunities for developing greener, scalable, and more efficient routes to structurally diverse thiazole derivatives.