New synthetic ‘tricks’. Trimethylsilyl triflate mediated cleavage of hindered silyl ethers

An alternative, mild procedure for the cleavage of t-butyldimethyisilyl and triphenyisilyl ethers to alcohols is shown, which is based on an exchange reaction with trimethylsilyl triflate below 0 °C. t-Butyldiphenylsilyl groups are not removed under these conditions.