Pummerer-based annulation of alkenyl sulfoxides, mainly ketene dithioacetal monoxides (KDMs), with nitriles has been developed. By means of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (Tf 2 O) as an activator, additive Pummerer reaction and subsequent CÀ S-bond-forming cyclization from the nitrilium intermediates furnished the corresponding thiazoles. Moreover, the nitrilium intermediates proved to be interrupted intermolecularly by H 2 O to afford oxazoles instead of thiazoles.