Aliphatic thioacetate deprotection using catalytic tetrabutylammonium cyanide

A series of thiol-functionalized organic compounds were selected to analyze the scope and efficiency of a new thioacetate deprotection method using catalytic tetrabutylammonium cyanide (TBACN) to effect the transformation of a thioacetate group to a free thiol in the presence of a protic solvent. Particularly attractive are the mild reaction and workup conditions, reduced byproduct formation typically seen using literature methods and yields of greater than 80% for the free aliphatic thiols. This method is effective on aliphatic thiols with trityl, benzyl, p-halo-benzyl, phenethyl, phenoxyethyl, and cyclohexylethyl structural moieties, but it is not effective with thiophenols.