An atom-efficient and powerful method for direct esterification of silyl ethers catalyzed by HClO4-SiO2

An efficient and convenient procedure for direct esterification of alkyl and aryl silyl ethers with Ac2O and a catalyst system of HClO4-SiO2 was developed. The silyl protecting groups are also directly transformed to acetates as sole byproducts that can be readily recovered and converted back to silylchlorides, protecting agents.