N₂O₄/SIO₂ SYSTEM AS AN EFFICIENT REAGENT FOR RAPID AND CHEMOSELECTIVE CONVERSION OF TRIMETHYLSILYL ETHERS TO THE PARENT ALCOHOLS UNDER NONAQUEOUS CONDITIONS

N₂O₄ was easily impregnated on silica gel to give a stable heterogeneous reagent N₂O₄/SiO₂ (I). Chemoselective deprotection of trimethylsilyl ethers to the corresponding alcohols was achieved in the presence of I in CH₂Cl₂ in excellent yields. The stability, easy preparation and high selectivity of the reagent make this method as a useful procedure for the selective deprotection of TMS ethers at room temperature.