Activation with trimethylsilyl triflate TMSOTf

While triflic anhydride activation of sulfoxides is the norm, other activation procedures have been employed. In the synthesis of the ciclamycin 0 trisaccharide, catalytic triflic acid (TfOH) was employed.19 Trimethylsilyl triflate (TMSOTf), in conjunction with triethyl phosphite (a scavenger for phenylsulfenic acid), has also been used.20... 

As another example of novel catalysis employing montmorillonite, the clay was found to show excellent catalytic activity for the addition reaction of trimethylsilyl ketene acetal to a, -acetylenic esters (ynoates), which contrasted strikingly with the reactions induced by a homogeneous acid catalyst, trimethylsilyl triflate (TMSOTf), as well as the addition reactions of lithium enolates with ynoates [Eq. (17)] (89). Table XXIII summarizes the results of the reactions of the silicon and lithium enolates of methyl propionate (21) with ynoates (22a-c). Except for the reaction of 22c, ferric ion-exchanged montmorillonite (Fe-Mont), which is more acidic than Al-Mont, catalyzed exclusive 1,2-additions of trimethylsilyl ketene acetal to 22a and 22b to give 23 in... 

Ytterbium triflate [Yb(OTf)3] combined with TMSG1 or TMSOTf are excellent reagents for the conversion of a-methyl styrene and tosyl-imines into homoallylic amides 32 (Equation (19)) (TMS = trimethylsilyl).29 These conditions produce the first examples of intermolecular imino-ene reactions with less reactive imines. Typically, glyoxalate imines are necessary. A comprehensive examination of the lanthanoid metal triflates was done and the activity was shown to directly correlate with the oxophilicity scale. The first report used preformed imines, and subsequently it was found that a three-component coupling reaction could be effected, bypassing the isolation of the intermediate imine.30 Particularly noteworthy was the successful participation of aliphatic aldehydes to yield homoallylic amines. 

---