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.
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