Ethers benzyl, oxidative cleavage

The same basic strategy was applied to the synthesis of the smaller fragment benzyl ester 28 as well (Scheme 4). In this case, aldehyde 22 prepared from (S)-2-hydroxypentanoic acid [9] was allylated with ent-10 and tin(IV) chloride, and the resulting alcohol 23 was converted to epimer 24 via Mitsunobu inversion prior to phenylselenenyl-induced tetrahydrofuran formation. Reductive cleavage of the phenylselanyl group, hydrogenolysis of the benzyl ether, oxidation, carboxylate benzylation, and desilylation then furnished ester 28. 

Several methoxy-substituted benzyl ethers have been prepared and used as protective groups. Their utility lies in the fact that they are more readily cleaved oxidatively than the unsubStituted benzyl ethers. The table below gives the relative rates of cleavage with dichlorodicyanoquinone (DDQ). ... 

The completion of the synthesis of key intermediate 2 requires only a straightforward sequence of functional group manipulations. In the presence of acetone, cupric sulfate, and camphorsulfonic acid (CSA), the lactol and secondary hydroxyl groups in 10 are simultaneously protected as an acetonide (see intermediate 9). The overall yield of 9 is 55 % from 13. Cleavage of the benzyl ether in 9 with lithium metal in liquid ammonia furnishes a diol (98% yield) which is subsequently converted to selenide 20 according to Grie-co s procedure22 (see Scheme 6a). Oxidation of the selenium atom... 

With the iodine atom in its proper place, provisions for construction of the C9-C10 bond by an aldol reaction could be made (see Scheme 44). To this end, oxidative cleavage of the para-methoxy-benzyl ether in 181 with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-l,4-benzoqui-none (DDQ) in CH2CI2-H2O furnishes a primary alcohol that can... 

Furthermore, the mediator has been used for the bond cleavage of benzyl ethers, the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde, the oxidation of toluene derivatives to benzoic acid esters, and the oxidation of aliphatic ethers [47]. 

Potential-selective cleavage is a powerful method for potential-selective deprotection. Benzyl ethers can be cleaved to benzaldehyde and alcohol via oxidation of the benzyl group to a radical cation (Fig. 30) [148]. With the radical cation of... 

Scheme 27 Oxidative cleavage of the benzyl ether-protecting group.

Oxidative cleavage by means of electrochemically generated cation-radicals is also possible thus benzyl ethers may be cleaved and carboxylates decarboxylated using cation-radicals of brominated triphenylamines in acetonitrile containing a weak base.34 35 Such as indirect reaction makes it... 

PMB ethers can be cleaved oxidatively with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ)11 in dichloromethane/water tor with cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) in acetonitrile/water.12 Many other protecting groups such as esters, isopropylidene acetals, benzyl ethers, allyl ethers and f-butyldiphenyl silyl (TBDMS) ethers are stable to these conditions (Scheme 2.4). The cleavage reaction, with DDQ is initiated with a single-... 

These benzaldehydes could then be directly used as a feedstock for various polymeric products or reduced to form phenolic benzylic alcohol derivatives (i.e., p-methylol groups). The p-methylol groups would thus be active sites, whereas in unmodified lignins, the C-l site is blocked and unreactive. In addition, the oxidative-cleavage step will hydrolyze a portion of the lignin interunit ether bonds, and thus increase the total fraction of free phenolic units to further enhance the reactivity. Other possible benefits are that the lignin would be extensively depolymerized and would form a more uniform feedstock material both conditions would give a product that is easier to handle. 

Alkaline hydrolysis of lignin increases the number of reactive benzylic hydroxyl groups and may also be important in further depolymerizing the lignin once the oxidative-cleavage reaction has occurred. The formation of a p-electron-withdrawing -CHO substituent on aryl lignin units should increase the rate of hydrolysis of the ether bonds (26). Hydrolysis also forms p-phenylate ions, which then protect the benzaldehyde from further reaction via the Cannizzaro reaction, as mentioned earlier. 

Other recent oxidative methods have yet to make a major impact. Photochemical bromination can be used for the oxidative cleavage of a benzyl ether on a substantial scale.290-291 An intermediate a-bromo ether hydrolyses to a hemiace-tal intermediate that collapses to give benzaldehyde and the liberated alcohol [Scheme 4 156] ... 

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