Fluorous biphasic catalysis with dirhodium(II) perfluorocarboxylates: selective silylation of alcohols under fluorous biphasic conditions

Dirhodium(II) perfluorocarboxylates bearing C7–C13 perfluoroalkyl chains have been prepared and used as catalysts under fluorous biphasic conditions. They were found to be active and recyclable catalysts for the silylation of alcohols with triethylsilane. Hydrophobic, primary alcohols are preferentially silylated by the fluorous biphasic catalytic system in comparison with hydrophilic or secondary ones. This opens the way to the development of selective silylation protocols.