Scandium trifluoromethanesulfonate-catalyzed mild, efficient, and selective cleavage of acetates bearing a coordinative group

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)00003-9

Scandium trifluoromethanesulfonate is a useful Lewis acid catalyst for cleavage of acetates containing coordinative groups adjacent to the acetyl carbonyl. The reaction proceeds under weak acidic conditions at room temperature. Racemizable α-keto acyloxy compounds are deacetylated without racemization. Selective mono-deacetylation at the 10-position of paclitaxel has been achieved.