Protecting Groups at the Secondary Position of Carbohydrates
Résumé
An overview of the most common protecting groups for the secondary alcohols of carbohydrates is provided with a focus on the compatibility of the different protection and deprotection conditions with other protecting groups and functionalities. Benzyl and substituted benzyl ethers are the most widely used nonparticipating, terminal, or late-stage protecting groups. Esters remain the participating protecting groups of choice, although some interesting alternatives have appeared in recent years. Silyl ethers are a more recent addition to the carbohydrate chemist's arsenal but represent a key nonparticipating iterative or late-stage protecting group.