Abstract

The benzyl group and a variety of substituted benzyl groups attached to an oxygen atom as in alcohols, ethers, acetals, or esters; to an amino nitrogen atom; or to a sulfur atom in thio ethers may be removed as toluene, or the corresponding substituted toluene, by hydrogenolysis. Other chemical and catalytic methods have been employed to bring about these debenzylations. It is the purpose of this chapter to give illustrations of both types of debenzylations so that their usefulness may be appreciated.