Phenylsilane, also known as silylbenzene, a colorless liquid, is one of the simplest organosilanes with the formula C6H5SiH3.

In the first step, phenylmagnesium bromide is added to form Ph−Si(OEt)3 via a Grignard reaction.

Reduction of the resulting Ph−Si(OEt)3 product with LiAlH4 affords phenylsilane.

[3] Phenylsilane combines with caesium fluoride to give the ate complex [PhSiFH3]−.

This species functions as a hydride donor, reducing 4-oxazolium salts to 4-oxazolines.