Silyl ether

Definition

Silyl ethers are compounds formed by the reaction of alcohols with silyl chlorides, effectively protecting the alcohol group by replacing the hydrogen atom bonded to oxygen with a silyl group. This protection method is widely used in organic synthesis to prevent undesirable reactions at the alcohol site during subsequent chemical reactions.

Related terms

Alcohol: Organic compounds characterized by one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups attached to a carbon atom.

Silylation: The process of introducing a silyl group into a molecule, commonly used for protecting functional groups in organic synthesis.

Deprotection: The chemical removal of protective groups, such as silyl ethers, from the protected functional groups once they are no longer needed