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Aerobic Oxidation of PMB Ethers to Carboxylic Acids
Qian Zhang1, Jiabin Zhang2, Hui Qian1
1Research Center for Molecular Recognition and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 220 Handan Lu, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Abstract:
The first aerobic protocol of direct transformation of p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) ethers to carboxylic acids efficiently with Fe(NO3)3 ⋅ 9H2O and TEMPO as catalysts at room temperature has been developed. The reaction accommodates C-Br bond, terminal/non-terminal C-C triple bond, amide, cyano, nitro, ester, and trifluoromethyl groups. Even highly selective oxidative deprotection of different benzylic PMB ethers has been realized. The reaction has been successfully applied to the total synthesis of natural product, (R)-6-hydroxy-7,9-octadecadiynoic acid, demonstrating the practicality of the method. Based on experimental studies, a possible mechanism involving oxygen-stabilized benzylic cation has been proposed.
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