Desilylation procedure via a naphthalene-catalysed lithiation reaction

The reaction of silyl protected alcohols, amines and thiols with lithium powder and a catalytic amount of naphthalene, in THF, at 0 °C led, after hydrolysis, to the recovery of the free alcohols, amines and thiols in very good yields. At least a phenyl group was required in the silyl protecting group for the success of the reaction. Some polyfunctionalised starting materials have successfully been deprotected. The stereochemical outcome of the deprotection of a silylated chiral secondary alcohol has also been studied and no racemization was observed. The process has shown to be a good alternative to the acid-catalysed desilylation procedures, the latter being not useful for the deprotection of some silylated tertiary alcohols.