AbstractA variety of 2‐halo‐5‐thiazolecarboxylates was prepared from substituted‐3‐aminoacrylates and 3‐ketoes‐ters. Selective reduction of 2‐chloro‐5‐thiazolecarboxylates4a, 4iand4jwith sodium borohydride in ethanol provided the corresponding 2‐halo‐5‐thiazolemethanols27‐29. Nucleophilic displacements on [2‐chloro‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐5‐thiazolyl]methyl methanesulfonate (32c) occurred selectively at the 5‐substituent to provide 2‐chloro‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐