Lewis acid-catalyzed cleavage of carbamate and carbonate resins

A procedure for the preparation of amides and esters on a Merrifield resin-bound benzyloxycarbonyl equivalent has been developed. Polymer-supported carbamates react cleanly with zinc bromide and the appropriate acyl halide in the presence of triethylamine to provide their corresponding amides in high yields and purities. Cleavage of resin-bound carbonates was carried out using the similar reagent systems in the absence of triethylamine to give acetates or benzoates.