Iodination of 2-(4-arylthiazole-2-yl)acetonitriles in DMF proceeds with the formation of previously undescribed 2,3-bis(4-aryl-1,3-thiazole-2-yl)but-2-enedicarbonitriles as a mixture of E - and Z -isomers. The latter were alternatively prepared by the reaction of cyanothioacetamide, α-bromoketones and iodine in DMF. Structure of the key compounds was proven by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

The reaction of (2E)-3-aryl-2-(4-aryl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)acrylonitriles with an excess of nitric acid in AcOH proceeds regioselectively to afford previously unknown (2E)-3-aryl-2-(4-aryl-5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)acrylonitriles in 82–96% yields.

A series of previously undescribed 3-(arylamino)-2-(4-arylthiazol-2-yl)acrylonitriles were prepared by the Hantzsch reaction between 3-(arylamino)-2-cyanothioacrylamides and α-bromoketones. Bromination of the prepared 3-(arylamino)-2-(4-arylthiazol-2-yl)acrylonitriles proceeded regioselectively at the C⁵ position of, thiazole ring to form previously unknown 3-(arylamino)-2-(4-aryl-5-bromothiazol-2-yl)acrylonitriles in 42–85% yields. Structures of the new compounds were confirmed by 2D NMR (¹H–¹³C, ¹H–¹⁵N HSQC, ¹H–¹³C, ¹H–¹⁵N HMBC) and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Reactions of 2-(4-arylthiazole-2-yl)acetonitriles with 4-methoxybenzylidenemalononitrile and potassium hydroxide or (2 E )-3-aryl-2-(4-arylthiazole-2-yl)acrylonitriles with malonitrile and sodium ethylate in ethanol proceeded to form 6-amino-4-aryl-5-(4-arylthiazole-2-yl)-2-ethoxynicotinonitriles with yields of 32–65%. Treatment of 6-amino-2-ethoxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiazole-2-yl]nicotinonitrile with an excess of molecular bromine produced 6-amino-5-[5-bromo-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiazole-2-yl]-2-ethoxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)nicotinonitrile with a yield of 45%.