Development of a new benzylating reagent spontaneously releasing benzyl cation equivalents at room temperature

Abstract

A new O-benzylating reagent, that is, 4-(4,6-diphenoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-benzylmorpholinium trifluoromethanesulfonate (DPT-BM), has been developed. Benzyl cation equivalents are generated from DPT-BM by dissolving the compound in a solvent at room temperature under non-acidic conditions. The benzylation of various alcohols by using a combination of DPT-BM and magnesium oxide provided the benzyl ethers in good yields.

Keywords: alkylation; carbocations; protecting groups; reaction mechanisms; synthetic methods.