A highly efficient and reusable mesoporous supported Co(II) catalyst for chemoselective deprotection of aryl acetates

Chemoselective deprotection of aryl acetates is successfully carried out in excellent yield using a mesoporous silica-supported (Salen) Co(II) catalyst. The catalyst shows high thermal stability and also can be recovered and reused at least 10 times without any significant loss of its catalytic activity. The present process is environmentally benign and economical.