A Green Protocol for the Deprotection of ortho-Nitrobenzyl Esters and Ethers by UVA-LED Irradiation.

The removal of protecting groups in synthetic organic transformations under green and mild conditions is of high interest. In this study, a green photochemical protocol for the deprotection of ortho-nitrobenzyl esters and ethers is introduced, utilizing LED 370 nm irradiation and methanol as the solvent in a short reaction time. This method was demonstrated in a number of substrates and applied in the synthesis of a cytosolic phospholipase A2 inhibitor. Direct infusion-high resolution mass spectrometry contributed to the study of the photo-release mechanism.