Concise Synthesis of Photocleavable Molecular Tag for Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry via Fries Reaction

A new synthetic route for the photocleavable molecular tag for laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) was achieved using Fries reaction of 2,6-dimethylphenyl ester as its key reaction. Zirconium chloride was found as uniquely efficient adjuvant to promote the reaction. The molecular tag was obtained in 5 steps without chromatographic purification