Advancements in Desilylation Reactions for the Synthesis of Valuable Organic Molecules

Silicon, due to its abundance, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness, is a critical element in the earth's crust with significant industrial applications. In organic chemistry, main group elements, and in particular silicon, are extensively utilized as versatile synthetic intermediates. Despite the current challenges associated with harsh reaction conditions and unsustainable practices in synthesizing crucial organic structural molecules, desilylation reactions have emerged as a facilitative method, offering milder conditions and operational simplicity. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in the synthesis of valuable organic molecules through two distinct desilylation reactions. It systematically presents the synthesis of a variety of derivatives, such as furan, alcohol, N-heterocyclic, and ketone, highlighting the broad substrate tolerance of these reactions. This broad functional group compatibility suggests a promising future for the synthesis of a wide range of bioactive molecules, underscoring the significant potential of desilylation in contemporary organic synthesis.

A Greener Technique for Microwave-Assisted O-Silylation and Silyl Ether Deprotection of Uridine and Other Substrates

A single clean, good-yielding, environment-friendly microwave-assisted procedure for O-silylation of uridine with tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (TBDMSCl), 1,8-Diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene (DBU) and potassium nitrate as catalyst under solvent-free conditions is reported. Subsequent silyl ether deprotection is accomplished with a reusable acidic resin via microwave irradiation. Both the silylation and desilylation protocols have been applied to a panel of alcohols of pharmaceutical interest.

Catalytic Reductive Alcohol Etherifications with Carbonyl-Based Compounds or CO2 and Related Transformations for the Synthesis of Ether Derivatives

Ether derivatives have myriad applications in several areas of chemical industry and academia. Hence, the development of more effective and sustainable protocols for their production is highly desired. Among the different methodologies reported for ether synthesis, catalytic reductive alcohol etherifications with carbonyl-based moieties (aldehydes/ketones and carboxylic acid derivatives) have emerged in the last years as a potential tool. These processes constitute appealing routes for the selective production of both symmetrical and asymmetrical ethers (including O-heterocycles) with an increased molecular complexity. Likewise, ester-to-ether catalytic reductions and hydrogenative alcohol etherifications with CO2 to dialkoxymethanes and other acetals, albeit in less extent, have undergone important advances, too. In this Review, an update of the recent progresses in the area of catalytic reductive alcohol etherifications using carbonyl-based compounds and CO2 have been described with a special focus on organic synthetic applications and catalyst design. Complementarily, recent progress made in catalytic acetal/ketal-to-ether or ester-to-ether reductions and other related transformations have been also summarized.