[reaction: see text] A novel type of photo-protecting group for carbonyl compounds is described. The protecting group is readily accessed in one step from commercially available material. Installation of the protecting group upon the carbonyl compounds is achieved in excellent yields. The carbonyl compounds in their protected form are remarkably stable under various conditions and can be releas...

This review is intended to provide the reader who is interested in the historical development of the recent research on photoremovable protecting groups, phototriggers, and “caged” compounds and to provide some insight into the genesis of our entry into the field through our most recent discoveries. Several other investigations have paralleled our development of a photoremovable protecting grou...