Recent Advances in the Multicomponent Synthesis of Thiazoles

Thiazole is a privileged scaffold in medicinal and synthetic organic chemistry owing to its chemical reactivity and versatile therapeutic potential. Thiazole derivatives have been explored for an extensive array of biological activities, viz. anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antitubercular, antiviral, antimicrobial, enzyme inhibitory, and multi-target therapeutic applications. The thiazole scaffold is widely present in numerous clinically approved drugs, including meloxicam (anti-inflammatory), sulfathiazole and cefdinir (antibacterial), thiabendazole (anthelmintic and antifungal), famotidine (H2-receptor antagonist), dasatinib (anticancer), ritonavir (antiviral), nitazoxanide (antiprotozoal), and febuxostat (xanthine oxidase inhibitor), highlighting its broad pharmacological relevance. This review highlights recent advances (2020-2025) in the synthesis of thiazole derivatives using multicomponent reactions from diverse starting materials such as phenyl glyoxal, thiourea, thioamide, and thiosemicarbazide. These reactions focus on a green, efficient, one-pot protocol for the efficient and sustainable construction of structurally complex thiazole scaffolds, utilising novel catalysts, green and recyclable solvents, microwave, ultrasound and visible light assistance. We hope that this review will open new prospects for researchers to develop efficient strategies for synthesising the thiazole ring.