Selective silylation of primary hydroxy groups in the presence of secondary alcohol.
The bulky isopropyl groups (vs. ethyl) allow for more selective reductions, e.g., beta-selective reduction of anomeric C-phenyl ketals, but do not diminish their activity (e.g. in the copper triflate catalyzed reductive etherification of trimethylsilyl ethers).
Triisopropylsilane is used as a protecting group in peptide synthesis and is also used as a reducing agent for the selective reduction of anomeric C-phenyl ketals. It is used in the selective silylation of primary hydroxyl groups without affecting the secondary hydroxyl group. It is used in the preparation of anti-1,2-diols catalyzed by a Ni(O) N-heterocyclic carbine complex with high diastereoselectivity.
Very sterically-hindered silane. Used as a cation
scavenger in the deprotection of peptides.