2-Amino-4-arylthiazoles I [R = 2-pyridyl, 4-MeOC6H4, Ph, 4-FC6H4, 3,4-(OCH2CH2O)C6H3, etc., R1 = H, Me, R2 = H] react with R3O2CCO2R3 (R3 = Et, CMe3, Me, Bu) in the presence of sodium alkoxides at room temperature to give I [R = 2-pyridyl, 4-MeOC6H4, Ph, 4-FC6H4, 3,4-(OCH2CH2O)C6H3, R1 = H, R2 = COCO2Et; R = 4-MeOC6H4, R1 = H, R2 = COCO2CMe3, COCO2Me, COCO2Bu; etc.] in high yield.