Acetic acid mediated regioselective synthesis of novel 2,4,5-trisubstituted thiazole derivatives has been reported by a domino reaction of thiosemicarbazide and aldehydes/ketones/isatin, to generate thiosemicarbazones (in situ) followed by addition of arylglyoxal and active methylene/activated C–H acids/pyrazole/indole in ethanol at 80 °C.