Highly efficient deprotection of aromatic acetals under neutral conditions using beta-cyclodextrin in water.

Aromatic acetals have been deprotected to the corresponding aldehydes under biomimetic conditions for the first time using beta-cyclodextrin in water under neutral conditions, thereby overcoming many of the drawbacks associated with earlier methodologies. This method, apart from being simple with regard to recycling of the catalyst, also has the potential for industrial applications.