Zinc triflate-benzoyl bromide: a versatile reagent for the conversion of ether into benzoate protecting groups and ether glycosides into glycosyl bromides.

A simple and efficient method is developed for the chemoselective one-pot conversion of ethers (benzyl, TBDMS and acetal) to the corresponding benzoates by zinc triflate-catalyzed deprotection and benzoylation by benzoyl bromide. In the same reaction, methyl or p-methoxyphenyl glycosides are converted into glycosyl bromides that are useful in glycosylation reactions.