Sodium Bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and Lithium Diisopropylamide in Deprotection of Alkyl Aryl Ethers: α-Effect of Silicon

Removal of methyl, benzyl, and methylene groups from alkyl aryl ethers is among the most popular deprotecting methods in organic synthesis. Alkali organoamides NaN(SiMe3)2 and LiN(i-Pr)2, often used as organic bases, have been developed as efficient deprotecting agents. Treatment of aryl methyl ethers with 1.5 equiv of NaN(SiMe3)2 or LiN(i-Pr)2 in THF and 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone in a sealed tube at 185 °C produced the corresponding phenol derivatives in good to excellent yields (80−97%). Removal of the methylene unit from benzodioxole derivatives was also accomplished by use of 2.5 equiv of these alkali organoamides. The corresponding catechols were obtained in 93−99% yields. The activity of NaN(SiMe3)2 was proven lower than that of LiN(i-Pr)2; it is due to the steric congestion and the α-stabilizing effect of the silyl groups. Thus selective mono-O-demethylation of o-dimethoxybenzenes can be achieved by the use of NaN(SiMe3)2 but not LiN(i-Pr)2. O-Debenzylation of aryl benzyl ethers, however, can be accomplished by the use of LiN(i-Pr)2.