An unprecedented quantum tunneling effect has been observed in catalytic SiÀ H bond activations at room temperature. The cationic hydrido-silyl-iridium-4 ], has proven to be a highly efficient catalyst for the hydrolysis and the alcoholysis of organosilanes. When triethylsilane was used as a substrate, the system revealed the largest kinetic isotopic effect (KIE SiÀ H/SiÀ D = 346 � 4) ever reported for this type of reaction. This unexpectedly high KIE, measured at room temperature, together with the calculated Arrhenius preexponential factor ratio (A H /A D = 0.0004) and difference in the observed activation energy [(E a D À E a H ) = 34.07 kJ mol À 1 ] are consistent with the participation of quantum tunneling in the catalytic process. DFT calculations have been used to unravel the reaction pathway and identify the rate-determining step. Aditionally, isotopic effects were considered by different methods, and tunneling effects have been calculated to be crucial in the process.