The Hiyama coupling is limited by the need for fluoride in order to activate the organo&shy;silicon reagent. Addition of fluoride cleaves any silicon protecting groups (e.g. silyl ethers), which are frequently employed in organic synthesis. The fluoride ion is also basic, so base sensitive protecting groups, acidic protons, and functional groups may be affected by the addition of this activator. Most of the active research concerning this reaction involves circumventing this problem. To overcome this issue, many groups have looked to the use of other basic additives for activation, or use of a different organo&shy;silane reagent all together, leading to the multiple variations of the original Hiyama coupling.