alpha-Diimine niobium complexes serve as catalysts for deoxygenation of benzyl ethers by silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) to cleanly give two equivalents of the corresponding benzyl chlorides, where SiCl4 has the dual function of oxygen scavenger and chloride source with the formation of a silyl ether or silica as the only byproduct. The reaction mechanism has two successive trans-etherification steps that are mediated by the niobium catalyst, first forming one equivalent of benzyl chloride along with the corresponding silyl ether intermediate that undergoes the same reaction pathway to give the second equivalent of benzyl chloride and silyl ether.