Treatment of aryl ally1 ethers with catalytic amounts of Pd(PPh& and NaBI%+ at room temperature affotded the parent phenol in high yield umler non-hydmlytic conditions. The ally1 group has been frequently used in organic synthesis as a protecting group for alcohols and amines due to its stability under basic and acidic conditions. 1 Removal of this proacting group is usually effected by two step sequence involving isomeri zation of the ally1 ether to the responding 1-propenyl ether followed by H+ or Hg2+ catalyzed hydrolysis or oxidative cleavage. Stmng bases (K-u-DMSO) or transition metal catalysts such as Wilkinson's reagent have been used for the isornerization purpose, usually at high temperatunz. Recently, various one pot deprotection procedures have been reported? In connection with ongoing research, we encountered a deallylation problem and we found. as a solution, that the combination of a catalytic amount of Pd(PPh3)4 and NaBI-Q can smoothly cleave the allylic ethers. The results are summarized in figure l? A range of reducible functional groups: nitro, acetals, carboxylic acids, amides, nitriles, carbamates and imides are compatible with our reaction conditions. This method is applicable to amino acids as shown for compound 8a whose chiral center is not affected (Scz [c&-j = +5. c 0.24, AcOH. li@ [c&J = +4, AcOH). An ally1 ester was also cleaved and moreover, selectively in the presence of ally1 ether (compound 8b). Pd(PPh3)zClz could also be used as catalyst and in this case. the reaction was found to be instantaneous after addition of NaB&, probably due to the high Teactivity of the Pd(PPh3h generated in situ. A typical experimental procedure is as follows. To a solution of compound 4a (70.5 mg, 0.19 mmol) in THF (2 ml) was added a catalytic amount of PdCpPh3)4 (4.4 mg. 0.02 eq). The slightly yellow solution was stirred for 5 min and NaB-(11 mg, 0.287 mmol) was introduced. After 1 h. the excess of NaIla was destroyed by addition of 1N HCl. The solvent was removed and the aqueous solution was extracted with CH2C12, the combined organic extracts wa washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated. The crude mixture was purified by flash chromatography (Sic. HeptanJEtOAc = 3/l) to afford product 4b (61 mg. 97%). While no detailed mechanistic study has yet been undut&n, wt assumal that the reaction proceeded via the formation of lc-complex rather than the commonly accepted pmpenyl intermediate and that hydride transfers from NaBI-Q to this Ir-complex afforded pmpene and phenol after aqueous work-up. Mild conditions, compatibility of the functional groups and easy handling of the reagent constitute the particular advantages of the present system.