Electrosynthesis of 1,2,4-Triazolium Tetrafluoroborates

The synthesis of 1,2,4-triazolium tetrafluoroborates under electrochemical conditions is reported. The reaction is performed with stoichiometric amounts of HBF4, which converts starting materials to their corresponding cationic forms due to protonation. As a result, sufficient conductivity is gained in MeOH, CD3OD, and EtOH, and no additional supporting electrolyte is required. Agrochemical fungicide, (±)-triticonazole (1), is transformed in this manner into 2a, an O-methylated potential intermediate involved in the metabolism of 1, in 42% yield on a gram scale.