Bulky isocyanide ligands having meta-terphenyl backbone were developed. Their usefulness as a supporting ligand in catalysis was illustrated by the application to the rhodium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of cyclohexanone. The combined effect of the high ligand affinity to the rhodium atom and the ligand bulkiness to facilitate the formation of a catalytically active, monoligated isocyanide-rhodium species was proposed.