Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidation of silyl ethers to silyl esters

Direct oxidation of silyl ethers to silyl esters, using RuO4 formed in situ, is reported. The reaction was optimized to minimize formation of the corresponding carboxylic acid product whose formation pathway appears to be solvent dependent. The reaction is tolerant of halides, nitriles, nitro groups, esters, epoxides, and ketones.