The reactions of a 5-chloro-2,3-diphenyltetrazolium salt with amines have been examined. In the presence of an inorganic base such as NaHCO(3), primary and secondary amines undergo a nucleophilic substitution to give the corresponding 5-aminotetrazolium salts. When triethylamine is used as a base, primary amines give 3-phenylazo-1,2,4-triazoles. A plausible dual-path mechanism is proposed for the formation of the triazoles via Type B mesoionic tetrazolium-5-aminides.
Keywords: 1,2,4-triazole; formazan; mesoionic compounds; nucleophilic substitution; tetrazolium.