BENZYL TRITYL ETHER AND DDQ AS NEW TRITYLATING REAGENTS

We describe herein a new tritylation procedure of alcohols using benzy l trityl ether and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone, The reac tion involves oxidative abstraction of one of the benzylic protons of benzyl trityl ether, followed by transformation of the generated benzy l trityl ether cation into a complex of benzaldehyde and trityl cation . The present procedure proceeds under mild neutral conditions to affo rd trityl ethers in generally good yields for primary alcohols, and in acceptable yields for several secondary alcohols.