A silicon-containing analogue of chloramphenicol, 2-dichloroacetamido-1-(p-trimethylsilylphenyl)propan-1,3-diol, has been prepared from p-trimethylsilylbenzaldehyde by condensation with glycine, reduction of p-trimethylsilyl-phenylserine to 2-amino-1-(p-trimethylsilylphenyl)propan-1,3-diol, and dichloroacetylation. The chloramphenicol analogue has the threo configuration.