Protection of hydroxyl groups as tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives

There is a need for development of chemical agents to protect hydroxyl groups. The agents developed must combine stability under varying circumstances with susceptibility to easy removal by a specific agent. Laboratory derivation of such a substance--dimethyl-tert-butylsilyl--is described and the structure of the chemical is diagrammed. The ethers of this substance are stable in water or alcohol bases under normal conditions and are also stable to hydrogenolysis and mild chemical reduction. This group of ethers should prove useful in a wide variety of hyroxyl-protecting applications. The group is becoming more and more useful in the synthesis of PGs (prostaglandins).