Synthesis of 3‐aryl‐4‐isothiazolecarboxylates

A short, convenient route to 3-aryl-4-isothiazolecarboxylates is described in which aryl Grig-nard reagents are added to the magnesium etiolate of ethyl cyanoacetete, and the resultant β-aminocinnamates are converted via a Vilsmeier-Haack reaction, thiation, and oxidation to the isothiazolecarboxylates.