Trichloroethyl chloroformate is used in organic synthesis

Organic synthesis

Organic synthesis is a special branch of chemical synthesis and is concerned with the construction of organic compounds via organic reactions. Organic molecules can often contain a higher level of complexity compared to purely inorganic compounds, so the synthesis of organic compounds has...

 for the introduction of the trichloroethyl chloroformate (Troc) protecting group

Protecting group

A protecting group or protective group is introduced into a molecule by chemical modification of a functional group in order to obtain chemoselectivity in a subsequent chemical reaction...

 for amine

Amine

Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines,...

s, thiols and alcohols. It readily cleaved vs other carbmates and can be use in an overall protecting group strategy.

The troc group is traditionally removed via Zn insertion, resulting in elimination and decarboxylation.