BiBr3, an efficient catalyst for the benzylation of alcohols:: 2-phenyl-2-propyl, a new benzyl-type protecting group

The benzylation of aliphatic alcohols with various benzylic alcohols has been achieved in the presence of BiBr3 under mild conditions. 2-Phenylpropan-2-ol proved to be the most efficient and can be considered as a novel protecting group. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.