This volume provides, at postgraduate student level, an accessible introduction to a topic of central importance in organic synthesis. It covers the main functional groups requiring protection in organic synthesis, explaining why a particular protecting agent works and how an agent should be chosen.

This volume provides, at postgraduate student level, an accessible introduction to a topic of central importance in organic synthesis. It covers the main functional groups requiring protection in organic synthesis, explaining why a particular protecting agent works and how an agent should be chosen. Emphasis is on what the protecting group is doing chemically to the basic structure that it is protecting. Attention is given to removal of the protecting group.

A clear and thoughtful book, which concentrates on explaining the chemistry. It also provides a convenient point of entry to the research literature.