A New Route to 1-Alkyltetrazoles: via 2-tert-Butyltetrazoles

1-Alkyl-5-R-tetrazoles, free of the corresponding 2-isomers, can be readily obtained in high yield from 5-R-tetrazoles via exhaustive alkylation of their readily available 2-tert-butyl derivatives followed by removal of the tert-butyl group from the 1(4)-alkyl-3(2)-tert-butyl-5-R-tetrazolium salts formed.