thiazolidine

Thiazolidine is a heterocyclic organic compound with the formula (CH2)3(NH)S. It is a 5-membered saturated ring with a thioether group and an amine group in the 1 and 3 positions. It is a sulfur analog of oxazolidine. Thiazolidine is a colorless liquid. Although the parent thiazolidine is only of academic interest, some derivatives, i.e., the thiazolidines, are important, such as the antibiotic penicillin.

==Preparation== Thiazolidine is prepared by the condensation of cysteamine and formaldehyde. Other thiazolidines may be synthesized by similar condensations. A notable derivative is 4-carboxythiazolidine (thioproline), derived from formaldehyde and cysteine. The 2-oxo-thiazolidine procysteine is produced from phosgenation of cysteine.