A novel and highly efficient method for the silylation of alcohols with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) catalyzed by recyclable sulfonic acid-functionalized ordered nanoporous silica

Silylation of alcohols with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) in dichloromethane provides the corresponding silyl ethers in almost quantitative yields at room temperature using 1-3 mol% of sulfonic acid - function alized silica. Additionally, the catalyst displays a high activity and thermal stability (up to 240 degrees C) and it can be easily recovered and reused for at least 20 reaction cycles without loss of reactivity. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.