Selectively 15N-labeled
tetrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazines and tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines
bearing one, two, or three 15N labels were synthesized.
The synthesized compounds were studied by 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR spectroscopy in DMSO and TFA solutions,
where the azide–tetrazole equilibrium can lead to the formation
of two tetrazole (T, T′) isomers
and one azide (A) isomer for each compound. Incorporation
of the 15N-label(s) leads to the appearance of 15N–15N coupling constants (J
NN), which can be easily measured via simple 1D 15N NMR spectra, even at natural abundance between labeled and unlabeled 15N atoms. The chemical shifts for the 15N nuclei
in the azole moiety are very sensitive to the ring opening and azide
formation, thus providing information about the azido–tetrazole
equilibrium. At the same time, the 1–2
J
NN couplings between 15N-labeled atoms in the
azole and azine fragments unambiguously determine the fusion type
between tetrazole and azine rings in the cyclic isomers T and T′. Thus, combined analysis of 15N chemical shifts and J
NN values in selectively
isotope-enriched compounds provides an effective diagnostic tool for
direct structural determination of tetrazole isomers and azide form
in solution. This method was found to be the most simple and efficient
way to study the azido–tetrazole equilibrium.