O-Alkyl S-(Pyridin-2-yl)carbonothiolates: Operationally Simple and Highly Nitrogen-Selective Reagents for Alkoxy Carbonylation of Amino Groups

Amino groups are selectively protected in good yields by reaction with O-alkyl S-(pyridin-2-yl)carbonothiolates in an appropriate solvent at room temperature in air. Even glucosamine, which contains multiple hydroxyl groups, is selectively N-protected in methanol.