A concise synthesis of 7-chloro-2-methylsulfanyl-thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridine-6-carbonitrile, a versatile intermediate for substituted 6-cyanothiazolopyridines

We describe the development of a simple route for the preparation of the novel title intermediate thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridine. This intermediate was particularly well suited for derivatization at the C-2 and C-7 positions of the bicyclic ring system.