A reversible safety-catch method for the hydrogenolysis of N-benzyl moieties

The benzyl groups of β-hydroxy-N-benzyl sulfonamides are labile toward hydrogenolysis-unlike N-benzyl sulfonamides lacking the β-hydroxy moiety. We find that N-acyl-N-benzyl sulfonamides undergo hydrogenolysis under very mild conditions. Based upon these observations, we developed a reversible safety-catch method using tert-butoxycarbonyl moieties to activate N-benzyl sulfonamides toward hydrogenolysis. We also explored the utility of the safety-catch activation method for other nitrogen-based functionality such as N-benzyl carboxamides, imides, and related functionality.