Zinc chloride catalyzed synthesis of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles under solvent free condition

Zinc chloride is an efficient and safe catalyst in the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of organic nitriles with sodium azide in solventless condition. The corresponding 5-substituted 1H tetrazoles were obtained under mild conditions. This method can overcome disadvantages such as: the use of toxic metals and expensive reagents, drastic reaction conditions, water sensitivity and the presence of dangerous hydrazoic acid. (c) 2009 Shahnaz Rostamizadeh. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.