Abstract Five-coordinate potassium dihydridosilicates, K+[H 2 Si (OR) 3]−(R= Et, i-Pr) have been obtained by reaction of a trialkoxysilane with potassium hydride. Reaction of the dihydridosilicate with an excess of a Grignard reagent gives the corresponding diorganosilane. The ease of reduction of carbonyl compounds by the dihydridosilicate in the absence of a catalyst is indicative of the high reactivity of the Si H bond in such species.
