Facile reductive etherification of carbonyl compounds can be conveniently performed by reaction with triethylsilane and alkoxytrimethylsilane catalyzed by iron(III) chloride. The corresponding alkyl ethers, including benzyl and allyl ethers, of the reduced alcohols were obtained in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions.
reductive etherification - iron(III) chloride - alkoxytrimethylsilane - triethylsilane - carbonyl compounds