A method for the deprotonative silylation of aromatic C-H bonds has been developed using trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane (CF3
SiMe3) as the silylating agent. The reaction proceeds in the presence of a catalytic amount of a base, such as pyridine, and in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Lewis acid, such as BF3·OEt2. The reaction is compatible with a wide range of functional groups