V₂O₅–H₂O₂: a convenient reagent for the direct oxidation of acetals to esters

Abstract

Both cyclic and acyclic acetals were deprotected to give the corresponding aldehydes in acetonitrile, and are transformed to methyl esters in methanol, on treatment with a catalytic quantity of V₂O₅ and H₂O₂. Under identical conditions acid-sensitive alcohol protecting groups, such as tetrahydropyranyl and tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers, were cleaved regenerating the corresponding alcohols. Both cyclic and acyclic acetals were deprotected to give the corresponding aldehydes in acetonitrile, and are transformed to methyl esters in methanol, on treatment with a catalytic quantity of V₂O₅ and H₂O₂. Under identical conditions, acid-sensitive protecting groups, such as tetrahydropyranyl and tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers, were cleaved regenerating the corresponding alcohols.