A series of bis(trialkoxysilylmethyl)aryl compounds1–17 {[(RO) 3 SiCH 2 ] 2 Ar, R=Me, Et, Pr , Bu, Ar=1,4-C 6 H 4 ; R=Et, Pr, Bu, Ar=1,4-C 6 H 2 Me 2 -2,6; R=Et, Pr, Bu, Ar=1,4-C 6 Me 4 -2,3,5,6 ; R=Et, Pr, Bu, Ar=1,3-C 6 H 4 ; R=Bu, Ar=1,2-C 6 H 4 ; R=Et, Pr, Bu, Ar=9,10-C 14 H 8 } prepared from the related bis(trichlorosilylmethyl)aryl compounds and characterised by 1 H, 13 C and 29 Si NMR and IR spectroscopy, and high resolution mass spectrometry. The X-ray crystal structures of two of the bis(trichlorosilylmethyl)aryl precursor compounds are reported. Organosilicate xerogels prepared from the precursors 2,7 and 12 are discussed. These have been studied by a combination of solid state NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (one case) and nitrogen sorption porosimetry and their properties compared with those of xerogels derived from related bis(trichlorosilylmethyl)arenes.