Aminomethylation of 1-R-Tetrazoles

The reaction of tetrazole and a series of its 1-substituted derivatives with formaldehyde and alkylamines under mild conditions results in aminomethylation of the heterocyclic ring at the carbon atom with the formation of the corresponding Mannich bases. It was found that strong acids (HCl and CF₃COOH) have an activating action during the process. An ylide mechanism of the reaction was proposed from the data obtained.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 66–71, January, 1991.