1-[2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)phenyl]ethanone: a new photoremovable protecting group for carboxylic acids

[reaction: see text] A new photoremovable protecting group for carboxylic acids is introduced. The protecting group 1-[2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)phenyl]ethanone, HAPE, is used to protect various carboxylic acids. When photolyzed, the protected compound releases the acid in 70-85% isolated yields. The synthesis and the results of photorelease of the protected acids are presented here.     

3-Nitro-2-naphthalenemethanol: a photocleavable protecting group for carboxylic acids

Photocleavable protecting groups are important in synthesis and caging. Among many such groups, 2-nitrobenzyl and related groups have been found useful in many applications. However, most of the known 2-nitrobenzyl-based caging chromophores show either low quantum yield or the photolysis wavelength is not suitable for various applications. In this paper, we report 2-nitro-3-naphthalenemethanol (NNM) as an efficient photocleavable protecting group for molecules containing a carboxylic function. NNM possesses photochemical properties better than the 2-nitrobenzyl chromophores as it is photoactivatable at 380 nm in aqueous medium (CH₃CN/H₂O, 3:2 v/v) showing the desired photochemistry. The carboxylic acids are efficiently photoreleased from NNM-based esters in almost quantitative yield.     

1-Acetylpyrene with dual functions as an environment-sensitive fluorophore and fluorescent photoremovable protecting group

A series of new fluorescent ester conjugates of carboxylic acids including amino acids was synthesized by coupling with an environment-sensitive fluorophore 1-acetylpyrene. Interestingly, the fluorescence properties of the ester conjugates and 1-acetylpyrene were found to be highly sensitive to its surrounding environment. The results obtained from the photolysis of the ester conjugates indicated that various factors like solvent, irradiation wavelength, and the structure of the conjugates govern the rate of the photocleavage.     

A colourful azulene-based protecting group for carboxylic acids

An intensely blue-coloured protecting group for carboxylic acids has been developed. The protecting group is introduced through a Steglich esterification that couples 6-(2-hydroxyethyl)azulene (AzulE) and the carboxylic acid substrate. Deprotection is effected under basic conditions by the addition of the amidine base DBU, whereupon cleavage occurs, accompanied by a colour change. A two-step deprotection methodology comprising activation with oxalyl chloride and deprotection with a very mild base was developed for use with base-sensitive substrates. The AzulE esters were found to be compatible with other commonly employed protecting groups – silyl ethers, MOM acetals – by studying their orthogonal and concomitant deprotections. The stability of the new protecting group towards various synthetic processes – oxidation, reduction, cross-coupling, olefination and treatment with base – provided the basis of a versatility profile. This indicated that AzulE esters are sensitive to strongly oxidising and basic agents while being compatible with reducing conditions and selected other reactions. The convenience of a highly coloured protecting group for tracking material (and avoiding loss of compound) through laboratory processes warrants further investigation of this and/or related species.     

2,5-Dimethylphenacyl as a new photoreleasable protecting group for carboxylic acids

The 2,5-dimethylphenacyl chromophore, a new photoremovable protecting group for carboxylic acids, is proposed. Direct photolysis of various 2,5-dimethylphenacyl esters in benzene or methanol at 254-366 nm leads to the formation of the corresponding carboxylic acids in almost quantitative isolated yields. The photodeprotection is based on efficient intramolecular hydrogen abstraction without the necessity of introducing a photosensitizer.     

Au(I) complexes-catalyzed transfer vinylation of alcohols and carboxylic acids

Au(I) complexes-catalyzed transfer vinylation of alcohols and carboxylic acids has been achieved. The catalyst system consists of 2 mol % AuClPPh₃ and 2 mol % AgOAc. Primary alcohols and secondary alcohols were converted into corresponding vinyl ethers in good yield (64-93%); however, tertiary alcohols showed poor reactivities. Carboxylic acids were also transformed into corresponding vinyl esters in good yield (78-96%).     

3-butenyl esters as convenient protecting groups for carboxylic acids

Carboxylic acids were protected as their corresponding 3-butenyl esters. Deprotection was carried out via ozonolysis and β-elimination of the resultant 3-acyloxypropanal.     

p-Anisyl group: A versatile protecting group for primary alcohols

A primary alcohol can be protected as a highly stable p-anisyl ether, which undergoes mild oxidative deprotection by ceric ammonium nitrate.     

The trimethylsilyl xylyl (TIX) ether: a useful protecting group for alcohols

A new protecting group for alcohols, the p-trimethylsilyl xylyl (TIX) group has been developed. The TIX group is used to protect various alcohols under acidic as well as basic conditions. The protected ethers thus formed had noteworthy chemoselectivity upon deprotection in the presence of other benzyl ethers and commonly used protecting groups. The stability of the TIX group towards various reagents has also been examined.     

2-Hydroxy-1,2,2-triphenylethanone as an efficient photolabile protecting group for carboxylic acids

The synthesis is reported of 2-hydroxy-1,2,2-triphenylethanone esters of carboxylic acids by the reaction between 2-chloro-1,2,2-triphenylethanone and a carboxylic acid in the presence of silver carbonate and silver tetrafluoroborate. Photolysis of the esters occurs rapidly on irradiation with a medium-pressure mercury lamp through quartz or Pyrex to return the carboxylic acid. The side product of the photolysis is benzo[b]phenanthro[9,10-d]furan, formed through a tandem process involving initial generation of 2,3-diphenylbenzofuran, photochemical cyclisation and re-aromatisation by aerial oxidation.     

Anthraquinon-2-ylmethoxycarbonyl (Aqmoc): a new photochemically removable protecting group for alcohols

[see structure]. Synthesis and photochemistry of a new photochemically removable protecting group for alcohols is described. Four carbonates of galactose derivatives (1-4) were synthesized from the corresponding arylmethanols via 4-nitrophenyl carbonate intermediates. Among them, photolysis of anthraquinon-2-ylmethoxycarbonyl (Aqmoc) galactose (1) proceeded with overall photolysis efficiency of 150 (quantum yield 0.10, and molar absorptivity 1500 M(-1) x cm(-1)) and rate constant of approximately 10(6) s(-1). To demonstrate its application to a biologically related molecule, 5'-Aqmoc-adenosine (5) was synthesized and photolyzed to yield adenosine in 91% yield.     

8-Bromo-7-hydroxyquinoline as a photoremovable protecting group for physiological use: mechanism and scope

Two-photon excitation (2PE) of "caged" biomolecules represents a powerful method to investigate the temporal and spatial relevance of physiological function in real time and on living tissue, because the excitation volume can be restricted to 1 fL. Additionally, low-energy IR light is used, which minimizes tissue destruction and enables deeper penetration into tissue preparations. Exploitation of this technology for studying cell physiology requires the further development of photoremovable protecting groups with sufficient sensitivity to 2PE for use in "caged" compounds. 8-Bromo-7-hydroxyquinoline (BHQ) is efficiently photolyzed by classic 1PE (365 nm) and 2PE (740 nm) under simulated physiological conditions (aqueous buffer of high ionic strength, pH 7.2) to release carboxylates, phosphates, and diols-functional groups commonly found on bioactive molecules such as neurotransmitters, nucleic acids, and drugs. It is stable in the dark, soluble in water, and exhibits low levels of fluorescence, which will enable use in conjunction with fluorescent indicators of biological function. BHQ-protected effectors are synthetically accessible. Stern-Volmer quenching, time-resolved infrared (TRIR), and (18)O-labeling experiments suggest that the photolysis occurs through a solvent-assisted photoheterolysis (S(N)1) reaction mechanism on the sub-microsecond time scale. BHQ has the requisite photochemical and photophysical properties as a photoremovable protecting group to regulate the action of biological effectors in cell and tissue culture with light, especially 2PE.     

The para-siletanylbenzyl (PSB) ether: a peroxide-cleavable protecting group for alcohols and phenols

A novel arylmethyl protecting group that is electronically similar to benzyl (Bn) but that can be cleaved under mild oxidizing conditions in the presence of para-methoxybenzyl (PMB) is described herein. para-Siletanylbenzyl (PSB) ethers are formed in one or two steps from the corresponding alcohols and cleaved in one or two steps with basic peroxide. Alcohols and phenols have been protected in good yields and deprotected cleanly under mild oxidative conditions.     

(1-nosyl-5-nitroindol-3-yl)methyl ester: a novel protective group for carboxylic acids

The usefulness of (1-nosyl-5-nitroindol-3-yl)methyl esters as a novel protective group for carboxylic acid is fully demonstrated. The novel protective group is stable under a broad range of conditions and can easily be deprotected under the mild conditions used for removal of the nosyl (Ns) group. It is orthogonal to the existing protective groups for carboxylic acids such as t-butyl and allyl esters.     

Electrochemical transcarbonation: Hydroquinoxy carbonyl protecting group for alcohols and amines

An electrochemically labile protecting group for alcohols and amines is reported. It can be removed under acidic or basic conditions and at low temperatures.     

2-(Prenyloxymethyl)benzoyl (POMB) as a new temporary protecting group for alcohols

The 2-(prenyloxymethyl)benzoyl (POMB) group was introduced in high yields to hydroxyl functions using the crystalline reagent, 2-(prenyloxymethyl)benzoic acid, in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). 2-(Prenyloxymethyl)benzoic acid is readily available, in two steps, from phthalide in 65% overall yield. The POMB group can be cleaved, in two steps, by treatment with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanoquinone (DDQ) followed by intramolecular lactonisation of the resulting hydroxy ester induced by a catalytic amount of Yb(OTf)₃·H₂O. The reaction conditions are compatible with the presence of a number of protecting groups such as isopropylidene, benzyl, acetyl, chloroacetyl, benzoyl, levulinoyl, Fmoc and Boc groups.     

Cobalt(II)-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols into carboxylic acids and ketones with hydrogen peroxide

The oxidation of aliphatic and aromatic alcohols into the corresponding carboxylic acid analogues and ketones has been carried out using 30% H₂O₂ and cobalt(II) complex 1 in good to high yields. The reaction is safe, clean and functions in the absence of additives.     

A highly efficient azide-based protecting group for amines and alcohols

The azide-based carbamate or carbonate protecting group (Azoc) shown above can be removed in less than 2 min under neutral conditions using trimethyl or tributyl phosphine as well as polymer-bound triphenyl phosphine. It was shown to be orthogonal to Fmoc and Mtt for peptide synthesis and to afford beta-glycoside with a 2-aminoglucosyl donor by virtue of the neighboring group participation.     

Intramolecular additions of alcohols and carboxylic acids to inert olefins catalyzed by silver(I) triflate

[reactions: see text] Intramolecular additions of hydroxyl or carboxyl groups to inert olefins catalyzed by simple silver(I) triflate are described. Good to excellent yields can be obtained for a range of substrates under relatively mild conditions. This reaction represents one of the simplest methods to construct cyclic ethers or lactones.     

Copper(II) triflate-catalyzed reduction of carboxylic acids to alcohols and reductive etherification of carbonyl compounds

A protocol is described for the reduction of carboxylic acids to primary alcohols using 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) and a catalytic amount of Cu(OTf)₂. Aliphatic as well as aromatic carboxylic acids are reduced in high selectivity and good yields. TMDS/Cu(OTf)₂ has also been found to be an efficient catalytic reducing system for the preparation of symmetrical ethers from carbonyl compounds under mild conditions.