Among bisphosphonate derivatives containing heterocycles biologically active compounds are found [1][2][3]. We have synthesized a series of 3-substituted (thiazol-2-ylaminomethylene)bisphosphonates [4,5] with phytotoxic activity by the condensation of (thioureidomethylene)bisphosphonic acids with halo ketones. Biological activity has also been found for tetraesters of [(thiazol-2-yl)aminomethylene]bisphosphonic acids unsubstituted at the position N-3 synthesized by the condensation of aminothiazoles with triethyl orthoformate [7].In the present work, we attempted to extend our method for the Hantzsch condensation to the synthesis of [(thiazolylamino)methylene]bisphosphonic acids unsubstituted at position N-3. (Thioureidomethylene)bisphosphonic acid 1 required for this reaction was synthesized by the acid-catalyzed decomposition of [(tertbutylthioureido)methylene]bisphosphonic acid 2, which we obtained previously as the disodium salt from (aminomethylene)bisphosphonic acid 3 [8]. Since acid 2 is unstable in the free state, it was used in situ without separation from the reaction mixture. Acid 2 decomposes in hydrochloric acid with loss of the tert-butyl residue to give (thioureidomethylene)bisphosphonic acid 1. This reaction proceeds under milder conditions than the decomposition described for tert-butylthiourea [9], which was carried out by heating in concentrated hydrochloric acid at reflux. However, the decomposition of acid 2 proceeds with formation of (aminomethylene)bisphosphonic acid 3 as a side product. The optimal conditions for the formation of desired acid 1 according to the 31 P NMR spectrum of the reaction mixture are obtained using 10% hydrochloric acid at 90°C. Under these conditions, the decomposition of acid 2 requires 10 min and leads to a mixture consisting of 83% of the desired acid 1 and 17% of the by-product acid 3. An attempt to use concentrated hydrochloric acid led to a mixture of not readily identifiable side products. Acid 1 precipitated from the mixture as fine-crystalline mono-(triethylammonium) salt 4, which is stable and can be stored under ordinary conditions without decomposition.