The formation of 2,3‐disubstituted thiazolidin‐4‐ones from s‐α'‐aminomercaptoacetic acid derivatives

Variously substituted N‐benzylidineanilines rapidly react with thioglycolic acid to generate S‐α'‐aminomercaptoacetic acid derivatives. The latter subsequently cyclize to the corresponding 2,3‐diarylthiazolidin‐4‐ones. Kinetics for the first order cyclization reaction in the solvents toluene, carbon tetrachloride and nitrobenzene have been obtained over the temperature range 333 K to 383 K and are in accord with a neutral, but geometrically complex transition state.