1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropanol: A Recyclable Organocatalyst forN-Boc Protection of Amines

A simple and efficient protocol for the chemoselective mono-N-Boc protection of various structurally diverse amines with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as solvent and catalyst is described. The catalyst can be readily separated from the reaction products and recovered for direct reuse. No competitive side reactions such as formation of isocyanate, urea, and N,N-di-Boc were observed. α-Amino alcohols afforded the N-Boc derivatives without oxazolidinone formation.