Abstract (2, 6-Difluorophenyl) trimethylsilane,-triethylsilane and-triisopropylsilane undergo sec-butyllithium-mediated metalation at the 3-and 4-position (ortho and meta relative to the halogen) in ratios of 99.6: 0.4, 98: 2 and 95: 5, respectively. The steric pressure transmitted by the fluorine atoms can be increased if the trialkylsilyl group is locked up on the other side by a relatively voluminous substituent. Whereas (2, 6-difluorophenyl) triethylsilane is ...