Practical de-O-acylation reactions promoted by molecular sieves

Methanol dried extensively over molecular sieves, or methanol in combination with powdered molecular sieves, serves as a good acceptor for acyl transfer reactions. Several O-acetylated and O-benzoylated sugar derivatives were efficiently de-O-acylated using this approach. In the case of per-O-acetylated N-acetylglucosamine, selective anomeric deprotection could be effected in high yield.