Platinumc omplexes [Pt(NHC')(NHC)][BAr F ]( in which NHC' denotes ac yclometalated N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, NHC) react with primary silanes RSiH 3 to afford the cyclometalated platinum(II) silyl complexes [Pt(NHC-SiHR')(NHC)][BAr F ]t hrough ap rocess that involves the formation of CÀSi and PtÀSi bonds with concomitante xtrusion of H 2 .L ow-temperature NMR studies indicatet hat the process proceeds through initial formation of the s-SiH complexes [Pt(NHC')(NHC)(HSiH 2 R)][BAr F ], which are stable at temperatures below À10 8C. At highert emperatures, activation of one SiÀHb ond followed by aC ÀSi coupling reaction generates an agostic SiH platinum hydride derivative [Pt(H)(NHC'-SiH 2 R)(NHC)][BAr F ], whichu ndergoes as econd SiÀHb ond activation to afford the final products. Computationalm odeling of the reaction mechanism indicates that the stereochemistry of the silyl/hydride ligands after the first SiÀHb ond cleavage dictates the nature of the products, favoringthe formation of aC ÀSi bond over aC ÀHb ond, in contrastt op revious results obtained for tertiary silanes. Furthermore, the processi nvolves a trans-to-cis isomerization of the NHC ligand beforet he second SiÀHbond cleavage.