Mechanisms of Heterogeneous Processes in the System SiO2 + CH4: II. Methylation of >Si=O Groups

The methods of optical and IR spectroscopy and quantum chemistry were used to obtain data on the direction and kinetics of the reaction of a silanone (SiO)₂Si=O with a CH₄ molecule and a methyl radical. Two mechanisms of methylation of silanone groups, molecular and free-radical, are studied. Both processes are accompanied by the formation of (SiO)₂Si(OH)(CH₃) groups. The rate constant of the molecular process is determined and its activation energy is estimated (17 kcal/mol). A methyl radical adds to the silicon atom in a silanone group to form the oxy radical (Si–O)₂Si(O)(CH₃). This radical carries a free-radical process of silanone group methylation. The main channel for the pyrolysis of (Si–O)₂Si(OH)(CH₃) groups is their decomposition with the abstraction of a methane molecule. The activation energy of this process is 70 kcal/mol. Quantum chemical methods were employed to obtain data on possible intermediates in the processes studied and these results are used to interpret spectral and kinetic data.