Deprotection of carboxylic esters of .beta.-lactam homologs. Cleavage of p-methoxybenzyl, diphenylmethyl, and tert-butyl esters effected by a phenolic matrix
p-Methoxybenzyl, diphenylmethyl, and tert-butyl esters were deprotected by gentle heating in phenol. This method of ester cleavage played an important role in beta-lactam synthesis. The mechanism of the reaction is believed to involve a proton relay through a hydrogen-bonded phenolic matrix.
TORII, SIGERU;TANAKA, HIDEO;TANIGUCHI, MASATOSHI;KAMEYAMA, YUTAKA;SASAOKA+, J. ORG. CHEM., 56,(1991) N1, C. 3633-3637