Chemoselective deacylation of functionalized esters catalyzed by dioxomolybdenum dichloride

Among five different oxidometallic species and two Lewis acids investigated, MoO2Cl2 shows the best catalytic and chemoselective activity for the deacylation of esters in methanol at ambient or elevated temperature. Both high efficiency and chemoselectivity were achieved for substrates bearing different ether or ester groups. Acylated mono and disaccharides can also be selectively deacetylated in good yields, leading to useful carbohydrate templates for further synthetic manipulations.