N-Morpholinomethyl-5-Iithiotetrazole: A Reagent for the One-Pot Synthesis of 5-(1-Hydroxyalkyl)tetrazoles

An efficient, one-pot method for the preparation of 5-(1-hydroxyalkyl)tetrazoles is reported. N-Morpholinomethyl-5-lithiotetrazole, generated by the deprotonation of 4-(N-tetrazolylmethyl)morpholine with LiHMDS, undergoes addition to ketones and aldehydes (both aromatic and aliphatic) to form 5-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-tetrazoles in a high yield, after acidic workup. The reported protocol displays a broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance, avoids the use of cyanide- or azide-based reagents, and provides access to sterically congested and unsaturated tetrazoles, which are difficult to access by other means.