Density functional theory (DFT)/IGLO 2 9 Si NMR studies show that there is no significant silicenium ion nature in trialkylsilyl substituted arenium, bromonium, oxonium and nitrilium ions. High electrophilicity of trivalent silicon and its affinity for π-donor arene solvents, as well as for oxygen, halogen and nitrogen heteroatoms of solvents or counter ions, is responsible for the inability to observe long-lived trisubstituted silyl cations.