Benzyl and p-nitrobenzyl by hydrogenation over palladium-carbon at about 0??? C. to 80??? C. in an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, methanol- or water or by hydrolysis in the presence of sodium sulfide at about 0??? C. to room temperature in a solvent such as e.g. DMF. Allyl by palladium-(0)-catalyzed transallylation in the presence of a sodium or potassium salt of 2-ethylcaproic acid, benzh