KHF, a mild and selective desilylating agent for phenol -butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ethers.

TBDMS (-BuMeSi, -butyldimethylsilyl) ethers of a variety of phenols have been deprotected with KHF in MeOH, at room temperature. Carboxylic ester and labile phenolic acetate were unaffected under these conditions. In competition reactions between TBDMS ethers of a phenol and two primary benzylic alcohols, the phenolic ether underwent cleavage whereas the alcohol ethers remained intact.