Deprotection of α-imidazole/benzimidazole ribonucleosides by catalytic carbon tetrabromide initiated photolysis

Several protected benzimidazole and imidazole α-ribonucleosides were deprotected in excellent yield at ambient temperature using CBr4 initiated photolysis in methanol at ambient temperature. No selectivity was observed and both trityl and isopropylidene groups were deprotected under the reaction conditions.