Synthesis of 6-Acyl-7-aryl-4,7-dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acids and their methyl esters

6-Acyl-7-aryl-4,7-dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acids and methyl 6-acyl-7-aryl-4,7-dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-5-carboxylates were synthesized by fusion of 4-aryl-2,4-dioxobutanoic acids and their methyl esters, respectively, with 1H-tetrazol-5-amine and aromatic aldehydes. The reaction of methyl 2,4-dioxopentanoate with 1H-tetrazol-5-amine and 2-fluorobenzaldehyde in boiling acetic acid gave methyl 6-acetyl-5-hydroxy-7-(2-fluorophenyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrotetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-5-carboxylate.