Gold(III) catalysis transforms protecting group from base-stable to base-labile
Unique orthogonality in a protecting group achieved using a gold-catalysed cyclisation for selective activation and deprotection
Researchers in Japan have created a protecting group that will be useful for making complicated biomolecules. Based on the commonly used fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group, the new 2-(2-ethynylphenyl)-2-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)-ethoxycarbonyl (Epoc) group is initially stable in the basic conditions known to cleave Fmoc groups, but it can be activated using gold(iii) catalysis to restore Fmoc-like lability in basic conditions.