Two protocols for the combinatorial synthesis of 5-(dialkylamino)tetrazoles were developed. The best success rate (67%) was shown by the method that used primary and secondary amines, 2,2,2-trifluoroethylthiocarbamate, and sodium azide as the starting reagents. The key steps included the formation of unsymmetrical thiourea, subsequent alkylation with 1,3-propane sultone and cyclization with azide anion. A 559-member aminotetrazole library was synthesized by this approach; the overall readily accessible (REAL) chemical space covered by the method exceeded 7 million feasible compounds.
Keywords: 2,2,2-trifluoroethylthiocarbamate; REAL (readily accessible) compounds; heterocyclization; tetrazoles; thiourea.