A simple and highly efficient deprotecting method for methoxymethyl and methoxyethoxymethyl ethers and methoxyethoxymethyl esters

A series of methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM)- and methoxymethyl (MOM)-ethers and MEM-esters were hydrolyzed to their corresponding alcohols and carboxylic acids by a catalytic amount of CBr4 (10%) in iPrOH under refluxing reaction condition. The chemoselective hydrolysis between R3Si- and MEM-protected alcohols can be achieved by using different steric bulkness solvents such as MeOH or iPrOH.