The title compound, C30H30O2Si, was synthesized and structurally characterized in order to determine the influence of the bulky silyl protecting group on the conformation of the benzoin moiety, with a view to directing the stereochemistry of the borohydride reduction of the benzoin. The crystal structure shows a benzoin O—C—C—O torsion angle of 38.34 (1)°, not greatly different from that found in benzoin itself. In the crystal, a weak C—H...O hydrogen bond between the carbonyl group and a phenyl H atom of a symmetry-related molecule forms chains along [100].
