A mild and chemoselective method for deprotection of aryl acetates and benzoates under non-hydrolytic condition

Chemoselective deprotection of aryl acetates and benzoates can be achieved under non-hydrolytic condition by treatment with K2CO3 in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) at 100°C. Selective cleavage of aryl acetates and benzoates take place in the presence of alkyl carboxylates during intramolecular competitions.