Synthesis 2008(19): 3126-3130  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1067272
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropanol: A Recyclable Organocatalyst for N-Boc Protection of Amines

Akbar Heydari*a, Samad Khaksara, Mahmood Tajbakhshb
a Chemistry Department, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-175, Tehran 18716, Iran
Fax: +98(21)88006544; e-Mail: akbar.heydari@gmx.de;
b Chemistry Department, Mazandaran University, Babol Sar, Iran
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 May 2008
Publication Date:
05 September 2008 (online)

Abstract

A simple and efficient protocol for the chemoselective mono-N-Boc protection of various structurally diverse amines with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as solvent and catalyst is described. The catalyst can be readily separated from the reaction products and recovered for direct reuse. No competitive side reactions such as formation of isocyanate, urea, and N,N-di-Boc were observed. α-Amino alcohols afforded the N-Boc derivatives without oxazolidinone formation.