The alkoxides of o-silyl benzyl alcohols 4 undergo cleavage reactions under mild conditions allowing transfer of a benzyl or silyl group to an electrophile. Reactions 3a [Formula: see text] 8, and 3c or 4c [Formula: see text] 11 illustrate their potential as benzyl and silyl anion equivalents.Key words: silyl migration, benzyl anion equivalent, silyl anion equivalent, β-silyl ketone, γ-hydroxysilane.