2-methyl-5-trinitromethyltetrazole (1) reacts with the styrenes 2a-d as a nitrating agent. The reaction of tetrazole 1 with the ethenes 2a-d in a neutral medium results in the denitration of compound 1 to give the α-nitro ketones 3a-c (from the alkenes 2a-c) or the 1-methyl-2-nitro-1-phenyl-1-ethanol 3d (from alkene 2d). In addition, the degradation products of compound 1 (the nitromethanone oxime 4 from the reactions with compounds 2a-c or the 5-dinitromethyltetrazole 5 from the reaction with compound 2d) are formed in low yields.