Chemoselective debenzylation of N-benzyl tertiary amines with ceric ammonium nitrate

Treatment of a range of N-benzyl tertiary amines with aqueous ceric ammonium nitrate results in N-debenzylation to afford the corresponding secondary amine. Chemoselective mono-N-debenzylation of N-benzyl tertiary amines is shown to occur in the presence of N-benzyl amides, O-benzyl ethers, O-benzyl esters, O-benzyl phenolates and S-benzyl ethers.