The tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) group is an attractive protecting group for alcohols, since TBDMS ethers can easily be prepared in high yield under mild conditions and are stable under a wide range of reaction c0nditions. l The TBDMS protecting group is usually removed with fluoride ions or with aqueous acid. lr2 Although TBDMS ethers are supposedly stable in reducing media,'incidental examples of reductive removal of the TBDMS protecting group ...