The photosolvolysis of N-arylmethyladenines. Photoremovable N-arylmethyl protective groups for N-containing compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)97950-4

N-arylmethyladenines are photolyzed in water, giving adenine and the corresponding arylmethanols.The reaction is not only observed when the arylmethyl group is a metasubstituted benzyl, but also with more complex substituents like imidazo<1,2-a>pyridin-6-ylmethyl.Meta-substituted arylmethyl groups are proposed as photoremovable N-protective groups in adenine chemistry.