Selective Deprotection of tert -Butyldimethylsilyl Ethers Using Nafion-H®/Sodium Iodide (or Bromodimethylsulfonium Bromide) in Methanol

Catalytic amounts of bromodimethyl sulfonium bromide, or Nafion-H along with NaI (1 equiv.), in methanol cleave a variety of TBDMS ethers readily in high yields. Alkyl TBDMS ethers react more readily and selectively compared to phenolic TBDMS ethers, benzyl, and methyl ethers.