Removal of acid-labile protecting groups on carbohydrates using water-tolerant and recoverable vanadyl triflate catalyst

Acetal, trityl, and TBDMS protecting groups on saccharides were subjected to alcoholysis using a catalytic amount of vanadyl triflate in an MeOH-CH2Cl2 solvent system. The configuration at the anomeric positions of saccharides was retained, and no glycosidic bond cleavage and oxidation of sulfides were observed. The presented method was easily implemented, compatible with diverse functional groups, and regioselective in some cases.