To a suspension of 5.0 g (34.2 mmol) of 5-phenyltetrazole in 55 mL of acetone was added 5.0 mL of triethylamine (3.6g, 35.6 mmol, 1.04eq). After 15 minutes, a solution of 10.0 g of triphenylmethyl chloride (35.9 mmol, 1.05eq) in 20 mL of tetrahydrofuran was added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for one hour. Water (75 mi) was slowly added and the mixture stirred for one hour at room temperature. The product was collected by filtration, washed with 75 mL of water and dried at 60° C. under vacuum to give 13.3g (34.2 mmol, 100%) of the product.
