The compound (o-MeC(6)H(4)Me(2)Si)(3)CH has been prepared and shown to be metallated slowly by MeLi in refluxing THF?IF to give the lithium reagent (o-MeC(6)H(4)Me(2)Si)(3)CLi. This reacts with Mel to give (o-MeC(6)H(4)Me(2)Si)(3)CMe, but not with Me(2)SiHCl nor with a range of other organosilicon halides.