Deallyloxy- and debenzyloxycarbonylation of protected alcohols, amines and thiols via a naphthalene-catalysed lithiation reaction

The naphthalene-catalysed lithiation of Alloc- and Cbz-protected alcohols, amines and thiols in THF at 0 °C led, after quenching with methanol, to the recovery of the free alcohols, amines and thiols in short reaction times and with very good yields. The selectivity for the removal of the Alloc- or the Cbz- group in a polyfunctionalised substrate has been studied. The selective reductive cleavage of a benzylic carbon-oxygen bond was achieved in the presence of an allylic carbon-oxygen or carbon-nitrogen bond. This method represents a great improvement in comparison with the previously reported deprotection procedures by dissolving metals, since it avoids the use of the toxic liquid ammonia and, therefore, the need to perform the reaction at low temperatures.