Oxidation of carbon-silicon bonds: the dramatic advantage of strained siletanes.

[reaction: see text] Herein we report on the use of siletanes as substrates for the oxidation of carbon-silicon bonds. These tetraalkylsilanes are easy to handle yet susceptible to rapid ring opening and oxidation upon exposure to aqueous fluoride and peroxide. This combination of stability and reactivity presents many practical benefits, including compatibility with silicon protecting groups and electron-rich aromatic rings.