Reactions of tris(pentafluorophenyl)silanes RSi(C 6 F 5 ) 3 with salicylaldehyde and second ary amines were studied. The reactions afforded α pentafluorophenyl substituted amines. Si lanes RSi(C 6 F 5 ) 3 (R = Me, Ph, C 6 F 5 , CH 2 CH=CH 2 , and CH=CH 2 ) were found to be efficient reagents for transfer of the C 6 F 5 group to the iminium cation generated from salicyl aldehyde and amine. However, tris(pentafluorophenyl)phenylethynyl and tris(pentafluoro phenyl)silanes were not able to serve as a source of a fluorinated substituent because of competitive transfer of acetylenide fragment or hydride.