Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

14.8: Protection of Alcohols

  • Page ID
    45245
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Introduction

    Often during the synthesis of complex molecules, one functional group in a molecule interferes with an intended reaction on a second functional group on the same molecule. An excellent example is the fact that a Grignard reagent can't be prepared from halo alcohol because the C-Mg bond is not compatible with the acidic -OH group.

    When situations like this occurs, chemists circumvent the problem by protecting the interfering functional group.

    Functional group protection involves three steps:

    1. Blocking the interfering functionality by introducing a protecting group.
    2. Performing the intended reaction.
    3. Removing the protecting group and reforming the original functional group.

    There are several methods for protecting an alcohol, however, the most common is the reaction with a chlorotrialkylsilane, Cl-SiR3 This reactions forms a trialkylsilyl ether, R'-O-SiR3. Chlorotrimethylsilane is often used in conjuction with a base, such as triethylamine, The base helps to form the alkoxide anion and remove the HCl produced by the reaction.

    General Reaction

    download1.png

    Example

    alt

    The silyl ether protecting group can be removed by reaction with an aqueous acid or the fluoride ion.

    alt

    By utilizing a protecting group a Grignad reagent can be formed and reacted on a halo alcohol.

    1) Protect the Alcohol

    alt

    2) Form the Grignard Reagent

    alt

    3) Perform the Grignard Reaction

    alt

    4) Deprotection

    alt

    alt

    Exercise

    14. Propose a multiple-step synthesis to transform 4-bromo-1-butanol into 5-methylhexane-1,5-diol.

    Answer

    14.

    ch 12 sect 8 exercise solution.png

    Contributors and Attributions


    14.8: Protection of Alcohols is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    • Was this article helpful?