Easy access to the family of thiazole N-oxides using HOF x CH3CN.

An efficient procedure for transferring an oxygen atom to thiazole-containing compounds, resulting in the corresponding N-oxides, was developed by using HOF x CH3CN; mild reaction conditions, high yields and easy purification are the main features of this novel route, while X-ray structural analysis reveals a hydrogen bond between the N-oxide functionality and a water molecule.