Selective deprotection of alkyl esters using magnesium methoxide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(95)02197-3

The use of magnesium methoxide for the deprotection of alkyl esters is described. This mild reagent provides a good method to cleave esters efficiently and more importantly, allows for effective differentiation between two different esters. The order of the reactivity of this reagent towards acyl cleavages was found to be: p-nitrobenzoate > acetate > benzoate > pivaloate >> acetamide.