Two alternative nonhalogen routes for the synthesis of phenylsilanes have been explored. In the first method, 2,3-dimethylbutadiene is reacted with divinyltetramethyldisiloxane via a Diels-Alder reaction. The product can then be aromatized. In the second method, cyclohexadiene undergoes hydrosilylation and the resultant product can be aromatized using palladium on carbon with nitrobenzene as an electron accepter. Phenylsilicones can be prepared in a single step in which a silicone hydride fluid and cyclohexadiene are refluxed in the presence of Pt/C (platinum on carbon) and nitrobenzene.