2-[2-Methyl-5-nitro-4-(phenylsulfonylmethyl)imidazol-1-yl]ethanol and 2-methyl-5-nitro-4-phenylsulfonylmethyl-1,3-thiazole.

The title compounds, C(13)H(15)N(3)O(5)S and C(11)H(10)N(2)O(4)S(2), respectively, both contain a phenylsulfonyl group connected, through a methylene bridge, to either a substituted nitroimidazole or nitro-1,3-thiazole ring. In the imidazole-containing molecule, the nitro and sulfonyl groups are trans relative to the sulfonyl-methyl bond, while in the thiazole-containing molecule, these substituents are cis. The stabilizing interactions within the crystals are also different between the two compounds.