Room-Temperature Debenzylation of N-Benzylcarboxamides by N-Bromosuccinimide

A simple and highly efficient method has been developed with which to cleave the N-benzyl group on N-mono- or di­substituted carboxamides using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) at room temperature. All the 31 substrates examined showed moderate to excellent deprotection yields. Our study also indicated that the debenzylation may involve an oxygen/light initiated free radical mechanism.