Deprotection of dithioacetals with 30% hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by tantalum(V) chloride-sodium iodide or niobium(V) chloride-sodium iodide

The reaction of dithioacetals with 30% hydrogen peroxide in the presence of catalytic amounts of tantalum(V) and iodide ion effectively produced carbonyl compounds in high yields. Dithioacetals also can be deprotected using the niobium(V) catalyzed oxidation of iodide ion by hydrogen peroxide under mild conditions.