Highly efficient deprotection of phenolic tetrahydropyranyl and methoxymethyl ethers and sequel cyclization to indanones using Sn(IV)Cl4 catalyst

Sn(IV)Cl4 catalyst provided a rapid and efficient deprotection method for the phenolic THP and MOM ethers and sequel intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of THP and MOM protected chalcone epoxides under mild conditions. The reaction took 2–3 min to give the products in excellent yield (90–98%) at 0 °C without affecting the other functional groups.