A novel cationic silaaromatic, 2-silaimidazolium cation (5), was synthesized by chloride abstraction from the corresponding chlorosilane (4) with [Et3Si(benzene)]+·TPFPB− (TPFPB− = tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate); cation 5 exists as a free silylium cation in solution due to bulky substituents on the five-membered ring.