Construction of 5-Aminotetrazoles via in Situ Generation of Carbodiimidium Ions from Ketones Promoted by TMSN3/TfOH.

A novel synthetic approach for the synthesis of 5-aminotetrazoles has been developed by employing simple ketones as substrates. This methodology involved the N2-extrusion/aryl migration of azido complexes as the key step for the in situ generation of carbodiimidium ion, which could further react with hydrazoic acid and cyclize intramolecularly to provide 5-aminotetrazoles in good to excellent yields. In addition, the regioselectivity of the reaction was studied and rationalized by density functional theory calculations.