Three novel 5-R-tetrazolato complexes (R = Me, Ph, 4-Py), namely [Zn 2 (MeCN 4 ) 4 (DMSO) 2 ] (1), [Cu 2 (PhCN 4 ) 4 (en) 2 ]·2DMSO (2), and [Cu(4-PyCN 4 ) 2 (DMSO) 2 ]·4DMSO (3), were isolated as unexpected products under attempts to prepare heterometallic tetrazolates using a direct synthesis strategy in the Cu 0 -ZnO-en-RCN 4 H-DMSO system (en = ethylenediamine). The prepared compounds were characterized by elemental, single-crystal X-ray, and thermal analyses, and IR spectroscopy. Variation of the 5-substituent of the tetrazole ring causes different composition of complexes 1-3 and diverse coordina-* Dr. S. V. Voitekhovich Fax: +375-17-2264696 E-Mail: azole@tut.by [a]