Use of methanesulfonic acid in the reductive ring-opening of O-benzylidene acetals

Methanesulfonic acid was shown to be an efficient and convenient substitute for ethereal HCl in reductive 4,6-O-benzylidene acetal ring-opening reaction with sodium cyanoborohydride in THF. Normal regioselectivity was observed, the 6-O-benzyl ethers with free 4-OH group being the major products of the reaction.

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