P-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). 

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 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). ... 

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

NaH, /7-MeOQH4CH2Br, DMF, —5°, 1 h, 65%. Other bases, such as BuLi, ° dimsyl potassium," and NaOH under phase-transfer conditions," have been used to introduce the MPM group. The use of (n-Bu)4N I for the in situ preparation of the very reactive p-methoxybenzyl iodide often improves the protection of hindered alcohols." In the following example, selectivity is probably achieved because of the increased acidity of the 2 -hydroxyl group ... 

The p-methoxybenzylidene ketal can be prepared by DDQ oxidation of a p-methoxybenzyl group that has a neighboring hydroxyl. This methodology has been used to advantage in a number of syntheses. " In one case, to prevent an unwanted acid-catalyzed acetal isomerization, it was necessary to recrystallize the DDQ and use molecular sieves. The following examples serve to illustrate the reaction " ... 

S-p-Methoxybenzyl, 460 S-o- or p-Hydroxy- or Acetoxybenzyl, 462 S-p-Nitrobenzyl, 462 S-2,4,6-Trimethylbenzyl, 462 S-2,4,6-Trimethoxybenzyl, 463 S-4-Picolyl, 463 S-2-Quinolinylmethyl, 464 S-2-Picolyl A/-Oxido, 464 S-9-Anthrylmethyl, 464 S-9-Fluorenylmethyl, 465 S-Xanthenyl, 465 S-Ferroceny I methyl, 466... 

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