An Efficient Method for the Protection of Alcohols and Phenols by Using Hexamethyldisilazane in the Presence of Cupric Sulfate Pentahydrate under Neutral Reaction Conditions

Alcohols and phenols are protected with hexamethyldi­silazane in the presence of cupric sulfate pentahydrate in good to excellent yields in acetonitrile. The method is highly selective for the conversion of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary and tertiary alcohols as well as phenols.