Sulfated Zirconia: An Efficient Catalyst for Solvent-Free Synthesis of Silyl Ethers Under Mild Conditions

Abstract

Oximes, allylic, aliphatic, aromatic, cyclic, acyclic, and hetero alcohols are silylated in short reaction times with good yields in the midst of a catalytic amount of sulfated zirconia solid acid catalyst and trimethylsilyl cyanide under nonbasic, solvent-free, and ambient temperature conditions. Selectivity toward O-silyl ether rather than N-silyl ether has been observed. This simple experimental procedure, combined with easy recovery and reusability of the catalyst, is expected to contribute to the development of a clean and environmentally friendly strategy for the synthesis of O-silyl ethers.

Keywords:

• Heterogeneous catalyst
• silylation of alcohols
• solid acid
• solvent-free
• sulfated zirconia

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

B. T. thanks the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, for the senior research fellowship. A. N. P. and R. S. thank the CSIR, New Delhi, for junior research fellowships.

Notes

^a Isolated yields of the pure product.

^a Yields of isolated products after column chromatography otherwise mentioned.

^b Reaction with .

^c Reaction without catalyst.