Chemistry Letters, Vol.29, No.7, 738-739, 2000
A mild and chemoselective dealkylation of alkyl aryl ethers by cerium(III) chloride-NaI
The alkoxy groups present ortho to carbonyl group in alkoxybenzaldehydes are selectively deprotected in high yields leaving other alkoxy groups unaffected by cerium(III) chloride-NaI in refluxing acetonitrile under neutral reaction conditions.