Cyclization of thiocyanomethylketone oximes with hydroxylamine hydrochloride and oxidation of 2-aminothiazole derivatives with peracids are shown to afford the same products, which can be formulated either as 2-imino-3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrothiazolines or 2-aminothiazole N-oxides. Compounds of this type bearing at position 4 an acetic or α-oxyiminoacetic residue are useful synthons for highly active β-lactam