An efficient FeCl₃‐promoted <i>O</i>‐alkyl cleavage of esters to carboxylic acids

Abstract A reliable and practical procedure for FeCl 3 ‐promoted ester cleavage has been developed. Lewis acids including TiCl 4 , ZnO and FeCl 3 etc. were investigated as promoters for O ‐alkyl cleavage of carboxylic acid ester. Under optimal reaction conditions, FeCl 3 (1.5 equiv.) was found to possess the highest activity and efficiently enhanced dealkylation of aryl esters, alkyl esters and aromatic heterocyclic esters to give their corresponding carboxylic acids in 54–98% yield, the method provides a complementary access to dealkylation of ester under neutral condition. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.