Mild and Chemoselective Deacetylation Method Using a Catalytic Amount of Acetyl Chloride in Methanol

Efficient deacetylation of alcohol acetates under mild acidic conditions was accomplished with a catalytic amount of acetyl chloride in methanol. Acetates of various primary, secondary, aromatic and sugar alcohols were successfully deprotected. Highly chemoselective removal of acetyl groups in presence of ­other commonly employed esters was also achieved in excellent yields. The reactivity of this transesterification-mediated deacetyl­ation was found to be directly dependent upon the electronic and steric nature of the acetates.