A clean and safe synthesis method of 5-(4'-methylbiphenyl-2-yl)-1H-tetrazole was found:under hydrothermal conditions,1.2 equiv.of 4'-methylbiphenyl-2-carbonitrile react with 1 equiv.of sodium azide in a mixed solvent of propane-1,2-diol/H2O,with 1.5 equiv.of ammonium chloride and 0.2 equiv.of ammonium fluoride as catalyst.After simple post-processing,the yield can be improved to 95%,and the purity of the product is 99%without further recrystallization.
