An Efficient Photoinduced Deprotection of Aromatic Acetals and Ketals

A novel type of photodeprotection reaction of simple aromatic acetals and ketals is described. The deprotection is highly efficient under optimized conditions. The aromatic ring confers the photoreactivity to the compounds. The efficiency of the process depends on the structure of the acetal moiety. The common minor side reaction, the photooxidation, becomes the major reaction pathway in the cases of cyclic acetals. The use of photon as only reagent makes this procedure especially attractive for acetal deprotection.