OICC Press Iranian Journal of Catalysis 2345-4865 5 4 2024 02 03 Introduction of sulfonated rice husk ash as a highly efficient reusable catalyst for the protection of the hydroxyl group EN Farhad Shirini Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran 0000-0002-7204-5000 Masoumeh Abedini Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, zip code 41335, I.R. Iran. Mahnaz Shamsi-Sani Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, zip code 41335, I.R. Iran. Mohadeseh Seddighi Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, zip code 41335, Iran. Journal Article 2024 02 03 A mild, efficient and fast method for the trimethylsilyl (TMS), tetrahydropyranyl (THP) and methoxymethyl (MOM) protection of alcohols and phenols in the presence of sulfonated rice husk ash (RHA-SO3H) is reported. All reactions were performed at room temperature in high to excellent yields. All the products are separated and compared with authentic samples and/ or identified using different types of methods including FT-IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Ease of the preparation and handling of the catalyst, heterogeneous reaction conditions, reusability of the catalyst, easy work-up procedure and short reaction times are the main advantages of this method, which make this procedure useful and attractive addition to the available methods.