A tetranuclear-zinc-cluster-catalyzed practical and versatile deprotection of acetates and benzoates.

A new catalytic deacylation of acetates and benzoates through transesterification with methanol was developed (see scheme). Reactions with various acid- and nucleophile-sensitive functional groups proceeded efficiently in the presence of a catalytic amount of the tetranuclear zinc cluster. The present catalysis is applicable to less-reactive tertiary acetates, the deacylation of which is difficult to achieve by transesterification with other catalysts.