Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis

This volume provides, at postgraduate student level, an accessible introduction to a topic of central importance in organic synthesis. It covers the main functional groups requiring protection in organic synthesis, explaining why a particular protecting agent works and how an agent should be chosen. Emphasis is placed on what a protecting group is doing chemically to the structure that it is protecting. Attention is given to removal of the protecting group.

This is a clear and thoughtful book, which concentrates on explaining the chemistry. It also provides a convenient point of entry to the primary literature.

Introduction; The protection of alcohols; The protection of aldehydes and ketones; The protection of carboxylic acids; The protection of the amino group; The protection of thiols; The protection of unsaturated systems; Some experimental methods; Some common abbreviations for protecting groups and reagents; Bibliography and references; Index.

James R. Hansen is a professor of history at Auburn University in Alabama. His book From the Ground Up won the History Book Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1988. This volume provides, at postgraduate student level, an accessible introduction to a topic of central importance in organic synthesis. It covers the main functional groups requiring protection in organic synthesis, explaining why a particular protecting agent works and how an agent should be chosen. Emphasis is on what the protecting group is doing chemically to the basic structure that it is protecting. Attention is given to removal of the protecting group.

A clear and thoughtful book, which concentrates on explaining the chemistry. It also provides a convenient point of entry to the research literature.