alpha,alpha’-Dipotassio-m-xylene was prepared by di-metalation of m-xylene with a butyllithium/potassium t-butoxide mixed base system. Its functionality was determined by combining the dianion with chlorotrimethylsilane which resulted in the di-substituted carbosilane. GC and H-1 NMR analysis confirmed that the di-substituted carbosilane was synthesized in >90% yield. The effectiveness of this dianion as an initiator for living anionic polymerization was demonstrated by the polymerization of isoprene and the synthesis of the triblock copolymer of dimethylacrylamide-isoprene-dimethylacrylamide.