The synthetic utility of a-silylated esters has been amply demostrated.1 Although these systems have been generated in a variety of ways, the majority of these preparations suffer from less than readily available starting materials and/or a lack of general- ity.2 The most general route to these interesting systems involves reactions of trimethylsilyl triflates with esters to give the a- trimethylsilyl esters in moderate to good yield with some contamination from the O- ...
