Carbonyl Protection

Selective reduction of a benzene ring (W. Grimme, 1970) or a C C double bond (J.E. Cole, 1962) in the presence of protected carbonyl groups (acetals or enol ethers) has been achieved by Birch reduction. Selective reduction of the C—C double bond of an a,ft-unsaturated ketone in the presence of a benzene ring is also possible in aprotic solution, because the benzene ring is redueed only very slowly in the absence of a proton donor (D. Caine, 1976). 

In general, imines are too reactive to be used to protect carbonyl groups. In a synthesis of juncusol, however, a bromo- and an iodocyclohexylimine of two identical aromatic aldehydes were coupled by an Ullman coupling reaction modi-fied by Ziegler. The imines were cleaved by acidic hydrolysis (aq. oxalic acid, THF, 20°, 1 h, 95% yield). Imines of aromatic aldehydes have also been prepared... 

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