Efficient and selective conversion of trimethylsilyl and tetrahydropyranyl ethers to their corresponding acetates and benzoates catalyzed by bismuth(III) salts

A variety of TMS and THP ethers are efficiently converted to their corresponding acetates and benzoates with acetic and benzoic anhydrides in the presence of catalytic amounts of Bi(III) salts such as BiCl3, Bi(TFA)(3), and Bi(OTf)(3). The present method is also effective for the selective acetylation and benzoylation of TMS and THP ethers of alcohols in the presence of phenolic ethers.