Studies have shown that a proper acid scavenger is a requisite to prevent acid‐labile functional groups from deterioration during aluminum triiodide‐mediated cleavage of o‐hydroxyphenyl alkyl ethers. In this work, the acid scavenging effect of inexpensive and bench stable inorganic bases and metal oxides were evaluated using eugenol as a model substrate. Among the bases and oxides screened, KOtBu, Na2CO3, CaO, CuO and ZnO were found effective. The method is compatible with a variety of functional groups, and was applied successfully in cleaving catechol monoethers such as guaiacol, vanillin, isovanillin, vanillonitrile, isovanillonitrile, acetovanillone, nonivamide, ethylvanillin and o‐isopropoxyphenol. The corresponding catechols were obtained in excellent yields. The oxophilicity of aluminum triiodide is not markedly suppressed by these inorganic acid scavengers, making the aluminum triiodide‐acid scavenger method effective in cleaving general phenyl methyl ethers such as m‐guaiacol, 4‐allylanisole, veratraldehyde and methyl eugenol without the anchimeric assistance of an o‐hydroxyl group.

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