Highly Chemoselective Deprotection of the 2,2,2-Trichloroethoxycarbonyl (Troc) Protecting Group

Nonreducing, pH-neutral conditions for the selective cleavage of the 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl (Troc) protecting group are reported. Using trimethyltin hydroxide in 1,2-dichloroethane, Troc-protected alcohols, thiols, and amines can be selectively unmasked in the presence of various functionalities that are incompatible with the reducing conditions traditionally used to remove the Troc group. This mild deprotection protocol tolerates a variety of other hydrolytically sensitive and acid/base-sensitive moieties as well.