A practical and scalable process to selectively monofunctionalize water-soluble α,ω-diols

A practical protocol for rapid and scalable synthesis of monofunctionalized α,ω-diols using a simple and inexpensive THP ether protection/deprotection strategy was described. Use of inexpensive DHP source and ease to remove excess water-soluble α,ω-diols and THP ether after deprotection render the process scale-friendly without need of column chromatographic separation. The application of present method was also illustrated in the preparation of heterobifunctional diols and well-defined extended oligo(ethylene glycol).