Step 2: Synthesis of ethyl 2-amino-5-methylthiazole-4-carboxylate
Thiourea (47 g, 616.83 mmol) was added to a solution of ethyl 2-chloro-3-oxobutanoate (100 g, 577.19 mmol) in ethanol (1000 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred and reacted under reflux conditions for 2 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature in a water/ice bath. The precipitate was collected by filtration to give 105 g (93% yield) of ethyl 2-amino-5-methylthiazole-4-carboxylate as a light yellow solid.
