Stereoselective synthesis of 2-pyrrolinyl- and 2-imidazolinylthiazoles

The reaction of 2-isocyanomethylthiazoles with trans-chalcone or aromatic azomethines in the presence of copper compounds results in only trans-pyrrolines or trans-imidazolines with thiazole substituents, as evidenced by ¹H NMR and mass spectrometry.