Improved Preparation of N-Trimethylsilylpyridinium Triflate, N-Triphenylsilylpyridinium Triflate, N-Triisopropylsilylpyridinium Triflate and Their Use in Silylating Alcohols to Silyl Ethers

N-Silylpyridinium triflates 1a-c have been prepared in excellent yield from the corresponding allyl silanes by reaction with triflic acid followed by pyridine. Compounds 1a-c were used to prepare silyl ethers from alcohols in generally high yield. A convenient procedure has been developed which enables the silylation of alcohols without an aqueous workup in the product isolation.