2 Synthetic methods Part ( iii ) Protecting groups

Another excellent and comprehensive annual ‘update’ review of the 2000 literature relating to protecting group (PG) strategies in organic synthesis has appeared this year. The employment of PGs to direct ‘docking’ at oxidative enzyme active sites thereby controlling subsequent hydroxylation of unactivated carbon atoms has also been overviewed. Moreover, a summary of the use of microwave (MW) heating for accelerating various PG manipulations (acylation, alkylation, silylation, acetalisation, deacylation, desilylation and deacetalisation) with particular reference to carbohydrate manipulations has appeared. Two reviews focusing on orthogonal PG strategies for ribonucleic acid synthesis 5 and solid phase peptide synthesis , respectively, have also appeared.