1‐( o ‐Nitrophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl Ether Derivatives as Stable and Efficient Photoremovable Alcohol‐Protecting Groups

The caging and photolytic release of alcohols has enormous potential for application in biological chemistry. A variety of stable 1‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl ether derivatives, which were readily prepared through Mitsunobu coupling reactions with an alcohol (ROH), underwent photolytic cleavage in high quantum yields (see scheme; R=alkyl, R′=H, OCH 3 ).