Methylsulfonylethoxycarbonyl (Msc) and fluorous propylsulfonylethoxycarbonyl (FPsc) as hydroxy-protecting groups in carbohydrate chemistry

The methylsulfonylethoxycarbonyl (Msc) group is presented as a non-lipophilic, base-labile, participating protecting group for carbohydrate alcohols. It can be introduced using Msc-Cl and pyridine and is readily cleaved via β-elimination under mild basic conditions. Its fluorous counterpart, the perfluorooctyl propylsulfonylethoxycarbonyl (FPsc) group, is used in a 'light fluorous' trisaccharide synthesis sequence.