N-acyl-N-carboxymethyl-2-nitroaniline and its analogues: a new class of water-soluble photolabile precursor of carboxylic acids

The synthesis and photochemistry of a new class of water-soluble, photolabile protecting group, the N-carboxymethyl-2-nitroanilinyl (CNA) group, are described. All three CNA-caging compounds synthesized underwent clean photochemical reaction in aqueous buffer solution to produce the intended product of acetic acid, along with the corresponding nitroso aromatic.