The safety-catch principle has been applied for the development of a new method for protecting sulfonic acids. 2, 2-Dimethylsuccinic acid was reduced to 2, 2-dimethylbutane-1, 4- diol, which was selectively silylated to give 4-(tert-butyldiphenylsilanyloxy)-2, 2- dimethylbutan-1-ol. Reaction of the latter compound with 2-chloroethanesulfonyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine afforded 4-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)-2, 2-dimethylbutyl ...