Utilization of lithium triethylborohydride as a selective N-acyl deprotecting agent

Lithium triethylborohydride has been found to be a superior and selective reagent for the removal of tertiary N-acyl protecting groups. The reagent selectively removes tertiary amide acyl functionality without affecting secondary amide functionality even when they are present in the same molecule. Some tertiary carbamates may be also removed under the same conditions.