Trialkylsilyl perfluoroalkanesulfonates are highly reactive silylating agents and Lewis acids: Synthesis, 1 (1982); Adv. Silicon Chem., 1, 189 (1991). Amides can be N,O-disilylated with TMSOTf: Org. Synth. Coll., 9, 516 (1998). For conversion of carbonyl compounds to silyl enol ethers, see, e.g.: J. Org. Chem., 58, 1449 (1993); Org. Synth. Coll., 9, 548 (1998). The reaction rate in triethylamine is almost 109 times faster than with TMS chloride: Liebigs Ann. Chem., 1718 (1980). In general, TMSOTf has a much greater tendency to give C-silylation than TMS chloride. With esters C-silylation usually predominates: Synthesis, 867 (1977); Liebigs Ann. Chem., 816 (1983). Nitriles are C-silylated: Synthesis, 636 (1977); Synth. Commun., 18, 2111 (1988). Electron-rich alkenes, e.g. ketene acetals, as well as electron-rich aromatics such as indoles and pyrroles also undergo C-silylation: Synthesis, 928, 929 (1984).tert-Butyl esters are cleaved directly to trimethylsilyl esters. Benzyl esters are unaffected, permitting selective cleavage: Synthesis, 545 (1980). TMSOTf has numerous applications as a Lewis acid catalyst, notably in mediating, under very mild conditions, crossed aldol condensations between silyl enol ethers and acetals: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 102, 3248 (1980); Tetrahedron, 44, 4259 (1988); Org. Synth. Coll., 9, 642 (1998). For a brief feature on uses of the reagent, see: Synlett, 1940 (2003).
