A highly chemoselective Boc protection of amines using sulfonic-acid-functionalized silica as an efficient heterogeneous recyclable catalyst

A facile and versatile method for the chemoselective Boc protection of amines has been developed by a treatment with (Boc)2O in the presence of sulfonic-acid-functionalized silica as a catalyst. The method is general for the preparation of N-Boc derivatives of aliphatic (acyclic and cyclic), aromatic, and heteroaromatic amines; primary and secondary amines; aminols, amino-esters; and sulfonamides. The catalyst works under heterogeneous conditions and can be recycled.