Selective Gold‐Catalysed Synthesis of Cyanamides and 1‐Substituted 1H‐Tetrazol‐5‐Amines from Isocyanides.

Abstract: The newly discovered gold‐catalysed reaction of isocyanides with hydrazoic acid generated in situ from trimethylsilyl azide and methanol (or, alternatively, from NaN3/AcOH) produces either cyanamides or 1‐substituted 1H‐tetrazol‐5‐amines, depending on the amount of available HN3. The reaction proceeds selectively and in generally high yields of either product, thus providing a particularly convenient access to a wide range of substituted 1H‐tetrazol‐5‐amines that are rather difficult to access otherwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]