The reduction of 1-(5-phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)propan-2-one and 1-phenyl-2-(5-phenyl-2H-tetrazol-
2-yl)ethanone with sodium tetrahydridoborate gave 1-(5-phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)propan-1-ol and 1-phenyl-2-
(5-phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)ethanol, respectively. Only 1-(5-phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)propan-2-one was reduced
with baker’s yeast with an appreciable yield. 1-(5-Phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)propan-2-one and 1-phenyl-2-(5-
phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)ethanone reacted with diethyl phosphonate in the presence of potassium fluoride to
produce the corresponding diethyl [hydroxy(5-phenyl-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)alkyl]phosphonates.