THE USE OF BIS(TRIMETHYLSILYL) ACETAMIDE AND BIS(TRIMETHYLSILYL) UREAFOR PROTECTION AND AS CONTROL REAGENTS IN SYNTHESIS

The oxophilicity of silicon allows the efficient protection of a range of hydroxyfunctionalities using either N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetami de (BSA) or N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)urea (BSU). Three distinct mechanis tic pathways are proposed for the reactions of the reagents which expl ain the mild reaction conditions that can be used to achieve a number of important synthetic transformations. The reactions include examples where improved stereochemical control results from the use of BSA.