Methoxybenzyl

Six protective groups for alcohols, which may be removed successively and selectively, have been listed by E.J. Corey (1972B). A hypothetical hexahydroxy compound with hydroxy groups 1 to 6 protected as (1) acetate, (2) 2,2,2-trichloroethyl carbonate, (3) benzyl ether, (4) dimethyl-t-butylsilyl ether, (5) 2-tetrahydropyranyl ether, and (6) methyl ether may be unmasked in that order by the reagents (1) KjCO, or NH, in CHjOH, (2) Zn in CHjOH or AcOH, (3) over Pd, (4) F", (5) wet acetic acid, and (6) BBrj. The groups may also be exposed to the same reagents in the order A 5, 2, 1, 3, 6. The (4-methoxyphenyl)methyl group (=MPM = p-methoxybenzyl, PMB) can be oxidized to a benzaldehyde derivative and thereby be removed at room temperature under neutral conditions (Y- Oikawa, 1982 R. Johansson, 1984 T. Fukuyama, 1985). 

Suggest a reasonable three step sequence showing all necessary reagents for the preparation of m methoxybenzyl cyanide from m methoxybenzaldehyde... 

NBS, CH3CN, H2O, 62-90% yield.The POM group has been selectively removed in the presence of an ethoxy ethyl ether, TBDMS ether, benzyl ether, p-methoxybenzyl ether, an acetate, and an allyl ether. Because the hydrolysis of a pentenyl 2-acetoxyglycoside was so much slower than a pentenyl 2-benzyloxyglycoside, the 2-benzyl derivative could be cleaved selectively in the presence of the 2-acetoxy derivative. The POM group is stable to 75% AcOH, but is cleaved by 5% HCl. 

This ether has properties similar to the p-methoxybenzyl (MPM) ether except that it can be repioved from an alcohol with DDQ in the presence of an MPM group with 98% selectivity The selectivity is attributed to the lower oxidation potential of the DMPM group 1.45 V for the DMPM versus 1.78 V for the MPM. 

The p-methoxybenzylidene ketal can be prepared by DDQ oxidation of a methoxybenzyl group that has a neighboring hydroxyl. This methodolc... 

Dimethoxybenzyl esters prepared from the acid chloride and the benzyl alcohol are readily cleaved oxidatively by DDQ (CH2CI2, H2O, rt, 18 h, 90-95% yield). A 4-methoxybenzyl ester was found not to be cleaved by DDQ. The authors have also explored the oxidative cleavage (ceric ammonium nitrate, CH3CN, H2O, 0°, 4 h, 65-97% yield) of a variety of 4-hydroxy- and 4-amino-substituted phenolic esters. ... 

The piperonyl ester can be prepared from an amino acid ester and the benzyl alcohol (imidazole/dioxane, 25°, 12 h, 85% yield) or from an amino acid and the benzyl chloride (Et3N, DMF, 25°, 57-95% yield). It is cleaved, more readily than a p-methoxybenzyl ester, by acidic hydrolysis (CF3COOH, 25°, 5 min, 91% yield). ... 

An 5-4-methoxybenzyl thioether is stable to HBr/AcOH and 12/MeOH. The latter reagent cleaves 5-trityl and -diphenylmethyl groups. 

During the synthesis of peptides that contain 4-methoxybenzyl-protected cysteine residues, sulfoxide formation may occur. These sulfoxides, when treated with HF/ anisole, form thiophenyl ethers that cannot be deprotected therefore, the peptides should be subjected to a reduction step prior to deprotection. ... 

M CF3SO3H, PhSCH3 or Tl(OCOCF3)3. The 5-adamantyl group is less prone to sulfoxide formation than is the 5-4-methoxybenzyl group. It is also more stable to CF3COOH. 

This method was also used to prepare the benzyl, methyl, ethyl, and p-methoxybenzyl derivatives. A polymeric version of the reagent was also described. 

A study of alkylations with a group of substituted benzyl halides and a range of Friedel-Crafts catalysts has provided insight into the trends in selectivity and orientation that accompany changes in both the alkyl group and the catalysts. There is a marked increase in substrate selectivity on going from / -nitrobenzyl chloride to /i-methoxybenzyl chloride. For example, with titanium tetrachloride as the catalyst, Aitoi Abenz increases from 2.5 to 97. This increase in substrate selectivity is accompanied by an increasing preference for para substitution. With /i-nitrobenzyl chloride, the ortho para ratio is 2 1 (the... 

Formation of an 11-methoxybenzyl ether occurs in satisfactory yield during the preparation of a 17,21 -benzylidene derivative [e.ff., (26)]. The usefulness of this ether and of related mixed acetals in removing the inhibitory effect of the 11 j5-hydroxyl group on the 20-ketone reduction has been reported. ... 

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