Abstract Cerium (III) triflate deprotects p-methoxybenzyl ethers of simple alcohols better than the cerium (III) chloride/sodium iodide system. It can be used in 1% M instead of equimolecular amounts, giving better yields. Aromatic alcohols rearrange, but the addition of a scavenger overcomes this drawback. Unfortunately, unsaturated alcohols are deprotected with decomposition, probably due to side electrophilic additions to double bonds. A ...