Me2SiH2, MeSiH3, and SiH4 are gaseous and flammable silanes that are inconvenient to use in chemical reactions. Catalytic amounts of a nickel pincer complex and NaO'Bu are reported to allow the synthesis of alkyl hydrosilanes from alkenes and alkoxy hydrosilanes, leading to the replacement of Me2SiH2, MeSiH3, and SiH4 by Me-2(MeO)SiH, Me(EtO)(2)SiH, and (MeO)(3)SiH in hydrosilylation reactions of alkenes. The scope and mechanism of the reactions are also described.