Regioselective removal of the anomeric O-benzyl from differentially protected carbohydrates

A mild, regioselective deprotection of the anomeric O-benzyl from multi-functionally protected carbohydrates via catalytic transfer hydrogenation is described. The protocol is tolerant of O-benzyl and O-benzylidene protections at non-anomeric positions, groups which are normally labile under typical hydrogenolysis conditions.