The reaction of 2,3,5-trichlorobenzoic acid hydrazide with carbon disullide and potassium hydroxide followed by treatment with hydrazine hydrate afforded 3-(2,3,5-trichlorophenyl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione (6). Alternatively, this triazole was also synthesized by fusing 2,3,5-trichlorobenzoic acid with thiocarbohydrazide. Condensation of (6) with various aromatic carboxylic acids in the presence of phosphorous oxychloride or with phenacyl bromides afforded two series of fused heterocycles namely 6-(substituted aryl)-3-(2,3,5-trichlorophenyl)-[1,2,4] triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadizoles (7) and 6-(substituted aryl)-3-(2,3,5-trichlorophenyl)-7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines (8), respectively. The structures of these newly synthesized compounds are characterised by elemental analysis, IR, H-1 NMR and mass spectroscopic studies. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Some of the compounds exhibited promising antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.