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