1-Butyl-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane dichromate (BAABOD) 3 is a useful reagent for the selective cleavage of trimethylsilyl ethers and tetrahydropyranyl ethers to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones in the presence of AlCl3 under solvent-free conditions. This method is very simple and efficient and the reaction has been carried out under solvent-free conditions in the presence of a catalytically amount of aluminum chloride.