A mild and chemoselective method for the deprotection of tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ethers using iron(III) tosylate as a catalyst

The most common method for the deprotection of TBDMS ethers utilizes stoichiometric amounts of tetrabutylammonium fluoride, n-Bu4N+F− (TBAF), which is highly corrosive and toxic. We have developed a mild and chemoselective method for the deprotection of TBDMS, TES, and TIPS ethers using iron(III) tosylate as a catalyst. Phenolic TBDMS ethers, TBDPS ethers and the BOC group are not affected under these conditions. Iron(III) tosylate is an inexpensive, commercially available, and non-corrosive reagent.