Pd-Catalyzed Debenzylation and Deallylation of Ethers and Esters with Sodium Hydride

Herein we demonstrate simply that the addition of Pd(OAc)(2) as a promotor switches the reactivity of a commonly used base NaH to a nucleophilic reductant. The reactivity is engineered into a palladium-catalyzed reductive debenzylation and deallylation of aryl ethers and esters. This operationally simple, mild protocol displays a broad substrate scope and a broad spectrum of functional group tolerance (>50 examples) and high chemoselectivity toward aryl ethers over aliphatic structures. Moreover, the dual reactivity of NaH as a base and a reductant is demonstrated in efficient synthetic elaboration.