A straightforward access to 2-alkyl and 2-arylthiazolines by condensation of β-aminothiols on nitriles, catalyzed by phosphotungstic acid (2%) under microwave irradiation, is described. This method has been directly applied to a short and efficient synthesis of bacillamide A (16). ... A straightforward access to 2-alkyl and 2-arylthiazolines by condensation of β-aminothiols on nitriles, catalyzed by phosphotungstic acid (2%) under microwave irradiation, is ...