(2-methoxyphenyl)dimethylsilyl lithium and cuprate reagents offer unique advantages in multistep synthesis.

[structure: see text]. The new silyllithium reagent 1 and the corresponding cyanocuprate 3 are readily generated under optimal conditions and are useful for the formation of C-Si bonds. Tamao-Fleming oxidation of such C-Si bonds can be effected under very mild conditions.