The cleavage of propargyl, allyl, benzyl, and PMB ethers by Pd(OH)(2)/C can be tuned in that order, by varying the reaction conditions. Other moieties such as C-C double bonds, esters, trityl ether, p-bromo and p-nitrobenzyl ethers are stable to these reaction conditions. Cleavage of allyl ethers can be made catalytic by using 1:1 mixture of Pd(OH)(2)/C and Pd/C. The synthetic potential of the selective ether cleaving ability of Pd(OH)(2)/C, essentially under neutral conditions, has been demonstrated by an efficient synthesis of a precursor for the preparation of an inositol pyrophosphate derivative. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.