HMDS - Silylation Reagent

 

HMDS is a weak TMS donor. If used as sole reagent, it is slow and not very effective. After addition of catalytic quantities (e.g., 1 %) of TMCS or as a mixture with TMCS, it is a fast and quantitative reagent for trimethylsilylation of organic compounds.

Aprotic solvents, e.g., acetonitrile, pyridine, dimethylformamide, carbon disulfide and dimethylacetamide are recommended for use with HMDS.