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

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.