Intramolecular nucleophilic attack at silicon in o-silylbenzyl alcohols. Generation of allyl and benzyl anion equivalents

Substituted silyl ethers of o-bromobenzyl alcohols and the derived o-silylbenzyl alcohols were used to transfer allyl and benzyl groups from silicon to the electrophiles benzaldehyde and benzophenone in excellent yields. γ-Oxidosilane intermediates (and possibly hypercoordinated silicon intermediates) are postulated.