Ethyl trimethylsilylacetate (Note 1).  Zinc powder (97.5 g, 1.5 mol) and cuprous chloride (14.9 g, 0.15 mol) are added to a 3-L, three-necked <flask> fitted with a 1-L, pressure-equalizing dropping funnel, mechanical stirrer, and efficient condenser that is connected to a <nitrogen source>. After the reaction vessel is flushed with <nitrogen>, a static nitrogen atmosphere is maintained for the remainder of the reaction. <150 mL> of <benzene> (Note 5) is added to the flask, and the resulting mixture is refluxed with <stirring> for <30 min> with the aid of an electric heating mantle. Heating is discontinued and a solution of chlorotrimethylsilane (109 g, 128 mL, 1.0 mol) and ethyl bromoacetate (184 g, 123 mL, 1.1 mol) in a mixture of 90 mL of ether and 350 mL of benzene is promptly added through the <dropping funnel> at such a rate as to maintain the reaction at <gentle reflux>. The addition takes about <1 hr>. After the addition is complete, the mixture is <heated> at <reflux> for <1 hr> and then <cooled> in an <ice bath>. While the mixture is <stirred>, 300 mL of aqueous 5% hydrochloric acid is added through the dropping funnel over a <10-min period>. The liquid layer is decanted into a 3-L <separatory funnel> and the <flask> is <washed> with two <100-mL> portions of ether. The ether solutions are added to the separatory funnel, the <organic layer> is separated, and the aqueous layer is <extracted> with two 200-mL portions of ether. The organic phases are combined and washed twice with 200-mL portions of saturated aqueous sodium chloride, twice with 200-mL portions of saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate, and finally with 200 mL of saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The organic layer is <dried> over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the mixture is <filtered>, and the filtrate is concentrated on a <rotary evaporator> to a volume of about <400 mL>. The residual yellow liquid is distilled in a 30-cm vacuum-jacketed Vigreux column at <atmospheric pressure> until the boiling point is <90°C>. The remaining liquid is <distilled> at <reduced pressure> to give, after a small forerun, 101–108 g (63–74%, (Note 8)) of ethyl trimethylsilylacetate, bp 93–94°C (104 mm), nD20 1.4152–1.4154 (Note 9).