Methoxymethyl ether
In organic chemistry, a methoxymethyl ether is a functional group with the formula, abbreviated MOM. The group is usually derived from chloromethyl methyl ether, a kind of chloroalkyl ether which is, like its congeners, often employed in organic synthesis to protect alcohols. Closely related to MOM ethers are methoxyethoxymethoxy protecting groups, introduced using 2-methoxyethoxymethyl chloride. The MEM protecting groups are more easily installed and more easily removed.
Protection
Typically, the alcohol is protected by addition of the chloromethyl reagent followed by deprotonation with a non-nucleophilic base such as N,N-diisopropylethylamine in dichloromethane.Although not relevant to protecting groups, MOM groups are installed by reaction of chloromethyl ethers with methoxide and by the acid-catalyzed reaction of alcohols with dimethoxymethane.