TCI B6880 is 5-(Bromomethyl)-2-phenyl-2H-tetrazole, a heterocyclic building block that combines a phenyl-substituted tetrazole ring with a highly reactive bromomethyl group. The tetrazole ring occupies an important position in medicinal chemistry because it is frequently used as a replacement for the carboxylic acid group, offering comparable acidity but different physicochemical behaviour. In this compound, the tetrazole nitrogen has already been substituted with a phenyl group at the 2-position, so the usual complications of tautomerism and N–H acidity no longer interfere, while the bromomethyl group serves as the connection point for attaching the tetrazole ring to other molecules.
The property that makes this material valuable is the reactivity of the bromomethyl group as an effective alkylating agent. The bromine atom sits on a primary carbon and is readily displaced by nucleophiles such as amines, thiols, deprotonated alcohols, carbanions, and azides through nucleophilic substitution reactions. In this way, the tetrazole ring can be attached directly onto a target molecular framework in a single step, without having to construct the tetrazole ring from a nitrile and an azide, a route that demands harsher conditions. The phenyl substitution on nitrogen also adds stability and imparts lipophilic character to the resulting structure.
In Indonesian laboratories, this building block is typically used in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry research settings, including university research groups, pharmaceutical development laboratories, and contract research organisations engaged in the preparation of bioactive compound libraries. It is normally handled on a small research scale, where a single reactive handle allows the tetrazole motif to be introduced late in a synthetic sequence, supporting structure–activity relationship studies and the exploration of carboxylic acid bioisosteres in candidate molecules.
- Carboxylic acid bioisostere installation — the pre-formed tetrazole ring can be attached to a lead compound to replace a carboxylic acid group while retaining comparable acidity and altering physicochemical behaviour.
- N-Alkylation of amines — the primary bromomethyl carbon is readily displaced by primary and secondary amines, giving direct access to tetrazolylmethyl amine derivatives in a single synthetic step.
- S-Alkylation of thiols — thiol nucleophiles react efficiently with the bromomethyl handle, allowing the phenyl tetrazole motif to be tethered onto sulfur-containing scaffolds and fragments.
- Ether formation with deprotonated alcohols — alkoxide nucleophiles displace the bromine to build tetrazolylmethyl ether linkages without requiring construction of the tetrazole ring itself.
- Carbanion and azide coupling — stabilised carbanions and azide nucleophiles substitute the bromide, extending carbon frameworks or providing azide intermediates for further functionalisation work.
| Brand | TCI |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 1202942-54-8 |
| Molecular formula | — |
| Purity | — |
| Category | Chemistry > Building Blocks > Heterocyclic Building Blocks |
| Pack sizes | available in standard TCI research-scale packaging; please confirm the current catalogue pack options when ordering |
| Physical form | — |
| Storage | keep in a cool, dry place in the tightly closed original container |
- Chemical name: 5-(Bromomethyl)-2-phenyl-2H-tetrazole
Store the material in a cool, dry area, protected from light and moisture, in its tightly closed original container. Suitable containers are amber or opaque glass bottles with chemically resistant closures; avoid transferring the compound into containers that are not rated for reactive organic halides. Because benzylic and primary alkyl bromides act as alkylating agents, treat this compound as a potential skin, eye, and respiratory irritant, and handle all weighing and transfer operations inside a functioning fume hood while wearing nitrile gloves, safety goggles, and a laboratory coat. Keep the material away from strong bases, strong oxidising agents, and sources of heat or ignition. Allow sealed containers to reach room temperature before opening to prevent moisture condensation, and dispose of residues and contaminated consumables as halogenated organic chemical waste in accordance with institutional procedures.
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