An efficient method for the N-debenzylation of aromatic heterocycles

The treatment of N-benzylated heterocycles with potassium tert-butoxide/DMSO and oxygen at room temperature cleanly affords N-debenzylated products in high yield. This procedure can be utilized on a variety of functionalized nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as imidazoles, benzimidazoles, pyrazoles, indazoles, carbazoles, and indoles.