Bacteriostatic activity of fluoro-analogues of 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole, a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of thiamine

2-Fluoro-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole and 5-(2-fluoroethyl)-4-methylthiazole have been prepared and the latter converted into a fluoro-analogue of thiamine. All three compounds show bacteriostatic activity against E. coli.