A Brief Review on Reductive Cleavage of Protecting Groups by Acid and Triethylsilane

Total synthesis of complex molecules, natural products, and drugs involves a series of chemical reactions from simpler starting materials by using various reagents and catalysts. This process requires appropriate reaction pathways, protection of functional groups, and management of stereochemistry. This review encompasses the regioselective reductive cleavage of various protecting groups, including trityl, monomethoxytrityl, dimethoxytrityl, diphenylmethyl, para-methoxybenzyl, dimethoxybenzyl, tert-butyl ester, tert-butoxycarbonyl, and many other functional groups, using trifluoroacetic acid/other acids, as well as triethylsilane. Furthermore, it covers selectivity in the deprotection of various protective groups over the reduction/ hydrogenolysis of other functional groups, such as alkenes, benzyl esters, and Cbz groups. In this brief article, we have examined the applications of acid and triethylsilane for the cleavage of various protecting groups and the scope of the reaction conditions.