A variety of alcohols and phenols, protected as the corresponding benzylsulfonic esters,
were efficiently deprotected by selective reductive cleavage of the sulfur-oxygen
bond, using an excess of lithium sand and a catalytic amount (5 mol%) of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB) as electron carrier, in THF at 0° C. This deprotection system
was also efficient at -50 °C and was compatible with a wide range of other functional
groups.
benzylsulfonyl - protecting group - alcohols - phenols - reductive deprotection