Reaction of hexachlorodisilane with bases and alkyl halides

Abstract

Hexachlorodisilane decomposes according to the equation nSi 2Cl 6 = nSiCl 4 + (SiCl 2) n when heated with catalytic quantities of triphenylphosphine or triphenylarsine. No reaction occurs with tristrifluoromethylphosphine. Hexabromodisilane is similarly decomposed by trimethylamine. Hexachlorodisilane reacts with hydrogen chloride in presence of pyridine according to the equation Si 2Cl 6 + 2HCl = 2SiCl 4 + H 2. With excess of hydrogen bromide and hexachlorodisilane a mixture of hydrogen chloride and bromide is recovered. Trichlorosilane reacts with hydrogen chloride in presence of pyridine according to the equation SiHCl 3 + HCl = SiCl 4 + H 2. Hexachlorodisilane reacts with methyl chloride in presence of triphenylphosphine to give a mixture of methyltrichlorosilane and silicon tetrachloride. When hexachlorodisilane and methyl bromide are heated together in presence of triphenylphosphine a mixture of methyl chloride and bromide is recovered.