“…Among the methylene groups, the one located in ␣-position to a carboxy function possesses higher reactivity, which was usually exploited in halogenations, sulfonations, Guerbet's reaction and Claisen condensation (Biermann et al, 2000). Recently, we described a selective ␣-silylation of FAME by using various silyltriflate (El Kadib et al, 2005a). Although the two O-and C-silyl forms are obtained in the case of organic esters (Emde and Simchen, 1977;Emde et al, 1982;Simchen, 1991), silylation of FAME (methyl undecanoate, methyl palmitate, methyl oleate and methyl linoleate) leads exclusively to one isomer: the C-silylated derivative.…”