Mild, efficient and economical oxidative deprotection of allyl aryl ethers

Abstract

An efficient, economical procedure for the cleavage of allyl aryl ethers using a catalytic amount of iodine in dimethyl sulphoxide gives corresponding alcohols or phenols in high yields under mild condition. The reaction can be performed in air without loss of variety of oxidisable fuctional groups. Allyl ether of phenols is selectively deprotected in preference to alcohols. The reaction is highly regioselective and chemoselective.