The synthesis, characterization, and thermal decomposition of CpBe(SiMe 3 ) are presented as part of an exploratory investigation designed to obtain more effective chemical vapor deposition precursors of metallic beryllium. The title compound provides the first example of a direct bond between beryllium and a non-carbenoid group 14 element. The base-free reaction of LiSiMe 3 with CpBeCl in pentane affords the air-sensitive, volatile solid CpBe-(SiMe 3 ) (ca. 70% yield based on CpBeCl), which was characterized by single-crystal CCD X-ray diffraction, multinuclear NMR, and mass spectrometric studies, and theoretically by DFT/NBO analysis. The solid-state molecular geometry of CpBe(SiMe 3 ) ideally conforms to C 3v symmetry (under assumed cylindrical symmetry for the C 5 H 5 ring); the Be-Si bond length of 2.185(2) Å is markedly longer than the sum of covalent radii (2.01 Å). The DFT-optimized molecular geometry closely conforms to that determined crystallographically. Total fragment charges (based upon atomic charge NBO calculations) of -0.79 e for C 5 H 5 , +1.26 e for Be, +0.81 e for Si, and -1.28 e for the three Me groups constitute a polarity pattern consistent with the Be-Cp bonding interaction being mainly ionic and with the Be-Si bonding pair being polarized toward the more electronegative SiMe 3 fragment. Beryllium-9 and 29 Si NMR spectra exhibit a large J(Be-Si) coupling constant of 51 Hz; the 9 Be chemical shift of δ -27.70 ppm, the highest field value recorded to date, is in accordance with the calculated bond-polarity pattern, as well as a bond to Si. Mass spectra (EI) exhibited peaks for the molecular ion and its isotopomers. Thermal decomposition of CpBe(SiMe 3 ) gives rise to trimethylsilane, CpBeMe, and CpBe(SiMe 2 SiMe 3 ) as the major products, as determined by multinuclear NMR. The latter species is likewise formed by the reaction of CpBeCl with LiSiMe 2 SiMe 3 .