HEXAMETHYLSILIRANE. I. PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND THERMAL DECOMPOSITION

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(00)92575-0

Hexamethylsilirane has been prepared by the action of magnesium on dimethyl-bis(α-bromoisopropyl)silane in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution.It was found to be highly reactive toward atmospheric oxygen and moisture and to decompose when heated in solution at 60-75 deg C.Its decomposition results in the extrusion of dimethylsilylene which may add to the tetramethylethylene produced in the decomposition to regenerate the silirane, insert into the reactive SiC2 ring of the silirane to give octamethyl-1,2-disilacyclobutane or oligomerize to give (Me2Si)n oils.Dimethyldiisopropyl-, tetraisopropyl- and tert-butyltriisopropylsilane were prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding isopropenylsilanes.Bromination of dimethyldiisopropylsilane at 65 deg C resulted in exclusive formation of dimethyl-bis(α-bromoisopropyl)silane.