We describe an efficient protocol for the Suzuki-Miyaura synthesis of ortho-biphenyltetrazoles from non-protected 2-bromophenyltetrazole and arylboronic acids. The optimised conditions were achieved using [1, 1 '-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) as catalyst and Na2CO3 as base. A panel of structurally diverse arylboronic acids was used to demonstrate the scope of the coupling procedure. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.