Iodine-alumina as an efficient and useful catalyst for the regeneration of carbonyl functionality from the corresponding 1,3-oxathiolanes and 1,3-dithiolanes in aqueous system

A simple and useful method has been demonstrated for the deprotection of 1,3-oxathiolanes and 1,3-dithiolanes to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in excellent yield by employing catalytic amount (30 mol %) of iodine supported on neutral alumina in ethanol-water or water. The major advantages of this protocol are mild reaction conditions, less reaction time, easy to handle, high yields, inexpensive reagent and environmentally benign.