The new organosilane 4-triallylsilylphenol (1) can be synthesised in high yield via two routes using either 4-bromophenol or its silyl-group protected derivative as starting materials. Compound 1 can be used in the divergent or convergent synthesis of carbosilane dendrimers or conversely as a readily functionalisable dendrimer core unit. An improved synthesis of chlorotriallylsilane is also presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.