The present invention relates to a method for silylating aromatic organic substrates, the method comprising contacting an organic substrate comprising a heteroaryl moiety with a mixture comprising (a) at least one organosilane and (b) potassium hydroxide (KOH), so as to provide a silylated heteroaryl product, wherein the heteroaryl moiety comprises an optionally substituted furan, thiophene, thiazole, isothiazole, oxadiazole, benzofuran, benzothiophene, isobenzofuran, isobenzothiophene, benzisoxazole, benzoxazole, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, 2,3-dihydrobenzothiophene, dibenzofuran, xanthene, or a dibenzothiophene.