Photosensitive protecting reagent for alcohols, acids, phenols etc: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 91, 5694 (1969); J. Org. Chem., 37, 2281, 2285 (1972); Compare 4,5-Dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl- alcohol. Has also been recommended for the protection of the imidazole function in histidine containing peptides: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 97, 440 (1975). It has been investigated as a photocleavable protecting group for various N-heterocycles: Tetrahedron Lett., 39, 359 (1998). For reviews of photoremovable groups in organic synthesis, see: Synthesis, 1 (1980); Org. Photochem., 9, 225 (1987).
