A convenient preparation of p-methoxybenzyl esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1080/00397910008087040

Carboxylic acids are conveniently and efficiently protected as their p-methoxybenzyl esters under very mild conditions using the pre-formed reagent N,N'-diisopropyl-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)isourea, and this method allows selective protection of carboxylic acids in the presence of other functionalities such as enolisable ketones and alcohol groups.