p-Methylbenzyl Group: Oxidative Removal and Orthogonal Alcohol Deprotection

We describe the practical removal of p-methylbenzyl (MBn) protections of alcohols by treatment with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone. When a molecule bears benzyl and MBn groups, the oxidant selectively removes the latter groups. Further, the MBn groups tolerate ceric ammonium nitrate, resulting in chemoselective removal of the p-methoxybenzyl group in the presence of the MBn groups. These orthogonal alcohol deprotections would provide novel synthetic strategies of organic compounds.

Synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles catalyzed by [Hmim]HSO4 as a powerful Brönsted acidic ionic liquid

An efficient and green procedure for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles with various aldehydes using a catalytic amount of 1-methylimidazolium hydrogenesulfate as an active and low cost Brönsted acidic room temperature ionic liquid has been developed. The ionic liquid was easily separated from the reaction mixture and was recycled five times without any loss in activity.Key words: ionic liquid, 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles, [Hmim]HSO4, aldehyde, benzil.