Reagent and catalytic process useful for cleaving a protected functional group

A process for the selective cleavage of a functional group having greater than 5 carbon atoms, from a protecting group having at least one unsaturated alkyloxycarbonyl group comprising the step of subjecting said functional group having said protecting group to a reagent comprising:

• a) an aqueous phase;
• b) a catalyst comprising at least one group VIII element in the periodic table of elements and at least one water-soluble ligand, wherein said group VIII element is maintained in said aqueous phase by the formation of a complex with said at least one water-soluble ligand;
• and
• c) a nucleophilic compound soluble in said aqueous phase;
• wherein said unsaturated alkyloxycarbonyl group is unsaturated in the beta-position, said nucleophilic compound has a nucleophilicity equal to or greater than an NH+.sub.4 ion, and said ligand has a solubility minimum of 2.times.10.sup.-5 M when monofunctional and a solubility minimum of 10.sup.-5 M when difunctional.