A simple convenient method of synthesis of 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadi
azole (MMTD) is described. Hydrazine hydrate, ethyl acetate and carbon disu
lphide were used as the starting materials and transformed into the target
molecule in three steps. MMTD was later converted into 7-Amino-3-{[(5-methy
l-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-yr)thio]methyl}-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2
-ene-2-carboxylic acid, a main drug intermediate of cefazolin.