diphenyl-t-butoxysilyl (i.e. DPTBOS) derivatives of alcohols are selec
tively cleaved by nonahydrated sodium sulphide in ethanol, the order o
f reactivity being: primary approximate to secondary>>tertiary. The co
rresponding t-butyldimethylsilyl and diphenyl-t-butylsilyl derivatives
remain unaffected in these conditions.