Cross‐linked poly(4‐vinylpyridine/styrene) copolymer‐supported bismuth(III) triflate: an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for silylation of alcohols and phenols with HMDS

Cross‐linked poly(4‐vinylpyridine/styrene) copolymer‐supported bismuth(III) triflate (³⁰P/S‐Bi) effectively activates hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) for the silylation of alcohols and phenols. By the use of this heterogeneous catalytic system, a wide range of alcohols as well as phenols are converted into their corresponding trimethylsilyl ethers in high yield under mild reaction conditions. The catalyst was reused more than 10 times without significant loss of its catalytic activity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.