Conventional and microwave assisted synthesis of new series of N-[2-{2-(substituted phenyl)-4-oxo-5-(substituted benzylidene)-1,3-thiazolidine}-iminoethyl]-2-aminothiazole 5a-5m have been developed. The cycloaddition reaction of thioglycolic acid with N-{2-(substituted benzylidenehydrazino)-ethyl}-2-aminothiazole 3a-3m in the presence of anhydrous ZnCl 2 afforded new heterocyclic compounds N-[2-{2-(substituted phenyl)-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidine}-iminoethyl]-2-aminothiazole 4a-4m. The later product on treatment with several selected substituted aromatic aldehydes in the presence of C 2 H 5 ONa undergoes Knoevenagel reaction to yield 5a-5m. The structures of compounds 1, 2, 3a-3m, 4a-4m and 5a-5m were confirmed by IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, FAB-Mass and chemical analysis. All above compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities against some selected bacteria and fungi and antituberculosis study against M. tuberculosis.