Abstract Liquid-liquid phase-transfer conditions were employed in an improved synthesis of 7, 9-substituted 7H-pyrrolo [3, 2-e] tetrazolo [1, 5-c] pyrimidines and 5, 7-substituted 4-amino- 7H-pyrrolo [2, 3-d] pyrimidines. The latter were obtained either by reductive ring cleavage of the former, or by one-pot synthesis from 5, 7-substituted 4-chloro-7H-pyrrolo [2, 3-d] pyrimidines.