Diiodine–Triethylsilane System: a Practical Method for Deprotection of Aryl Benzyl Ethers

A practical method for the debenzylation of aryl benzyl ethers has been developed using easy-to-operate I2 and Et3SiH, as well as the green solvent ethyl acetate. Halo groups, methoxy, ester groups and nitro on the benzene rings of aryl benzyl ethers are compatible with the debenzylation. Control experiments reveal that in situ generated Et3SiI maybe the actual promoter of the procedure. This method does not require a separate desilylation reaction to obtain the phenol products.