Solvolysis of the methoxymethyl protecting group in penicillin derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)00413-3

The methoxymethyl (MOM) moiety, used as protecting group for the carboxyl function of penicillin derivatives, their sulfoxides and sulfones, could be easily cleaved in aqueous methanol at room temperature. The rate of deprotection by solvolysis is not sensitive to the nature of the substituent in position 6, but depends on the state of oxidation of the thiazolidine sulfur.