Iodine–alumina as an efficient and useful catalyst for the regeneration of carbonyl functionality from the corresponding 1,3-oxathiolanes and 1,3-dithiolanes in aqueous system

A simple and useful method has been demonstrated for the deprotection of 1,3-oxathiolanes and 1,3-dithiolanes to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in excellent yield by employing catalytic amount (30 mol %) of iodine supported on neutral alumina in ethanol–water or water. The major advantages of this protocol are mild reaction conditions, less reaction time, easy to handle, high yields, inexpensive reagent and environmentally benign.