The parent of 2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-tetrazol-5-ylidene)-2-cyanoacetate: Synthesis and reactivity X-ray structure of (E)2-[1-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-tetrazol-5-ylidene]-2-cyanoacetate

Reaction of 3,3-diazido-2-cyanoacrylate 5 with four moles of ammonia gives tetrazolyl-bisammonium salt 7 . The key-intermediate is the amino-vinyl azide 6 which spontaneously undergoes a 1,5′ ring-closure reaction followed by double deprotonation. Treatment of 7 with hydrochloric acid yields the parent of 2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-tetrazol-5-ylidene)-2-cyanoacetate 9 (R = Me, Et) as the only tautomer. Regiospecific monoalkylation of bisammonium salt 7a with dimethyl sulfate and reaction of ammonium salt 12 with hydrochloric acid gives (E)2-(1-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-tetrazol-5-ylidene)-2-cyanoacetate ( 13 ) (X-ray structure of derivative 14 ). Compound 13 can also be obtained from vinyl azide 10 and methylamine. This experiment as well as AM1 calculations of 9a, 23 and 24 strongly favour tautomer 9a .