3-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxy)glutaric anhydride is a specialized intermediate in organic synthesis, featuring a protected hydroxyl group at the 3-position via a tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) ether. This protection allows selective reactivity at the anhydride functionality, which can undergo ring-opening reactions with nucleophiles such as amines, alcohols, or thiols to form glutaramides, half-esters, or thioesters while keeping the hydroxyl shielded. It is particularly valuable in the multi-step synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and complex natural product analogs, where precise control over functional group reactivity is essential. The TBDMS group provides stability under a wide range of conditions and can be deprotected under mild acidic conditions (e.g., with TBAF or HCl) to reveal the free hydroxyl, facilitating further elaboration of the molecule.