The present invention provides a process for the preparation of
4-methyl-5-formyl-thiazole of the formula (I)
##STR1##
which comprises reducing the thiazole ester of the formula (III) to
thiazole alcohol of the formula (IV), using sodium borohydride in the
presence of AlCl.sub.3 in a solvent and oxidising using an oxidizing agent
the thiazole alcohol of the formula (IV) to obtain
4-methyl-5-formyl-thiazole of the formula (I).
