2-(4-Methoxybenzyloxy)-3-nitropyridine (PMBONPy), easily prepared from 2-chloro-3- nitropyridine and p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) alcohol, reacts with various types of hydroxy groups in the presence of a catalytic amount of trimethylsilyl triflate (Me 3 SiOTf) to give the corresponding PMB ethers in high yields under mild conditions.