Detritylation of ethers using iodine-alcohol reagents: an acid-catalyzed reaction

Research was conducted to investigate the detritylation of ethers using iodine-alcohol reagents through an acid-catalyzed reaction. Results demonstrate that 1% solutions of iodine in methanol readily removed trityl and dimethoxytrityl ether groups in good yield and selectively. Trityl groups were transformed to trityl methyl ether and triphenylmethane but triphenylmethanol is also formed when the methanol is wet.