The first platinum-catalyzed selective silylation of aryl halides including aryl iodides and bromides having an electron-withdrawing group is described. The reaction takes place rapidly in NMP with triethylsilane as a silicon source and sodium acetate to provide functionalized aryltriethylsilanes in moderate to good yields. Heteroaromatic halides also were found to be readily silylated with triethylsilane. The procedure is chemoselective and tolerates a wide variety of functional groups.