Microwave Synthesis of 5-Substituted 1H-Tetrazoles Catalyzed by Bismuth Chloride in Water

Abstract

Bismuth chloride was used to catalyze the [2 + 3] cycloaddition between sodium azide with aryl nitriles, aliphatic nitriles, and vinyl nitriles. A number of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles were synthesized in water or isopropanol/water mixtures using microwave heating. Good yields were obtained for these reactions when heated for 1 h at 120–160 °C in a 3:1 isopropanol/water mixture. A few of the less reactive nitriles required longer reaction times for good yields.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Bismuth chloride
• [2 + 3] cycloaddition
• 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles
• microwave
• water