Abstract: The largest acceleration by a trimethylsilyl group in the formation of positive charge has been measured in r-4-tert-butyl-c-2-(trimethylsilyl) cyclohex-t-yl (6). As the trifliioroacetate, this molecule reacts 10l2 times faster than cyclohexyl trifluoroacetate at 25 OC in 97% aqueous trifluoroethanol. Measurements for 6 were carried out on the 3, 5- dinitrobenzoate, and the leaving group ratio was obtained from the closely related cis-2-( ...