Reductive deprotection of allyl, benzyl and sulfonyl substituted alcohols, amines and amides using a naphthalene-catalysed lithiation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(97)00920-4

The reaction of different protected alcohols, amines and amides with lithium and a catalytic amount of naphthalene (4 mol %) in THF at low temperature leads to their deprotection under very mild reaction conditions, the process being in many cases chemoselective.