Efficient trimethylsilylation of alcohols and phenols in the presence of ZrCl4 as a reusable catalyst

ZrCl4 can be used as an efficient and reusable catalyst for the conversion of alcohols and phenols to their corresponding trimethylsilyl ethers with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). All reactions were performed under mild and completely heterogeneous reaction conditions in good to high yields.