3.4- Dimethoxybenzyl ethers protect alcohols

Protection of hydroxyl groups (11, 166).- 3.4-Dimethoxybcnzyl ethers are oxidized by DDQ more readily thanp-methoxybenzyl ethers. Moreover, the dimethoxybenzyl ethers of secondary alcohols can be selectively oxidized in the presence of the corresponding ethers of primary alcohols. Benzyl, p-methoxybenzyl, and 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl ethers all undergo hydrogenolysis catalyzed by Pt/C or Pd/C, but selective hydrogenolysis of benzyl ethers is possible with W-2 Raney Ni. 

Benzylic oxidation of alkoxybenzyl ethers is particularly facile, and since some of the more activated derivatives are cleaved under conditions which leave benzyl, various ester, and formyl groups unaffected, they have found application in the protection of primary and secondary alcohols. Deprotection with DDQ in dichloromethane/water follows the order 3,4-dimethoxy > 4-methoxy > 3,5-dimethoxy > benzyl and secondary > primary, thus allowing the selective removal of one function in the presence of another. 2,6-Dimethoxybenzyl esters are readily cleaved to the corresponding acids on treatment with DDQ in wet dichloromethane at rt, whereas 4-methoxybenzyl esters are stable under these conditions. Oxidative cleavage of N-linked 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl derivatives with DDQ has also been demonstrated. ... 

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