Facile and Highly\nSelective Deprotection of Aryl Propionates/Acetates\nUsing a Supported Lewis Acid Catalyst (20% InCl<sub>3</sub>/MCM-41)

The selective deprotection of substituted aryl esters\nlike acetates\nand propionates in the presence of different electron-donating and\n-withdrawing functional groups to the corresponding phenols in good\nyields was reported using the Lewis acid supported solid acid catalyst\n20<b>%</b> InCl<sub>3</sub>/MCM-41 prepared by the wet impregnation\nmethod. The textural and microscopic properties of the catalyst were\nstudied, which revealed a high degree of dispersion of InCl<sub>3</sub> over MCM-41, promising quantification of Lewis acidity, and well-ordered\nhoneycomb structure. The methodology was further explored for the\nselective deprotection of acetates and propionates in the presence\nof substituted amides that remain unaltered. Reusability studies revealed\nthe robust nature of the catalyst without losing the catalytic activity\nfor up to six recycles corroborated with hot leaching test studies\nmonitored by ICP-AES analysis, which was further authenticated with\nXPS studies of the catalyst before and after the reaction.