a process is disclosed for the deprotection of allylic esters and ethers . the process comprises reacting an allyl ester of a carboxylic acid or an allyl ether of a phenol with pyrrolidine or piperidine and a catalytic amount of an organic - soluble palladium complex having a coordinating phosphine ligand to cleave the allyl moiety . the resultant carboxylic acid or phenol is then recovered .