2-(Trimethylsilyl)ethanol CAS 2916-68-9 Assay ≥98.0% (GC)

Protecting Group Chemistry
One of the most prominent applications of 2-(Trimethylsilyl)ethanol is as a protecting group in organic synthesis.
Hydroxyl (OH) Protection: TMSE can be used to temporarily protect hydroxyl groups in molecules, allowing for selective modification of other functional groups without affecting the OH group. This is particularly useful in complex molecule synthesis where specific functionalities need to be targeted.
Carboxyl (COOH) Protection: Similar to hydroxyl groups, 2-(Trimethylsilyl)ethanol can also protect carboxylic acid functionalities present in molecules. This allows for further manipulations without affecting the COOH group.
Amino (NH2) and Phosphoryl (PO4) Protection: Although less common, TMSE can also be used to protect amino and phosphoryl groups under specific reaction conditions.
The advantage of using 2-(Trimethylsilyl)ethanol as a protecting group lies in its ease of introduction and removal under mild reaction conditions. This makes it a valuable tool for chemists to achieve selective modifications in complex molecules.
Precursor Synthesis
2-(Trimethylsilyl)ethanol can serve as a precursor for the synthesis of other valuable compounds:
Trimethylsilyl (TMS) Derivatives: TMSE reacts with aromatic fluorides to form trimethylsilyl derivatives, which are useful intermediates in various organic transformations.
Teoc-Protected Amines: By reacting with isocyanates, 2-(Trimethylsilyl)ethanol can be used to synthesize teoc-protected amines. These protected amines are valuable building blocks in peptide synthesis and other applications.