A metal-free catalytic intramolecular hydrosilylation reaction is reported. The key intermediates in the catalytic cycle are silyl cationic species. The reaction is used to produce 2-silanorbornanes 2 from 3-cyclopentenemethylsilanes 1 under mild conditions and in high isolated yields.Key words: hydrosilylation, catalysis, silaheterocycles, silyl cations.