Widely used in organic synthesis as a silyl protecting group reagent, particularly for alcohols and phenols. It selectively shields hydroxyl groups from reacting under harsh conditions, allowing multi-step transformations to proceed with control. Its bulkiness provides steric protection, making it especially effective in complex molecule synthesis such as natural products and pharmaceuticals. The tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) group is stable under a variety of reaction conditions but can be removed selectively using fluoride sources like tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) or acidic conditions. Commonly employed in carbohydrate chemistry, nucleotide synthesis, and peptide modifications where precise functional group management is critical.