The readily available 2-substituted5-acetyl-4-thiazolyltriflates 2are usefulbuildingblocks for the preparation of functionalised thiazoles by means of palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions with organometallic reagents and alkoxycarbonylation and deoxygenation reactions. The combination of palladium-catalysed coupling of 2 together with 1-alkynes/6-endo-dig annulation reactions in the presence