The gas-phase decomposition of methylsilane. Part I. Mechanism of decomposition under shock-tube conditions

The gas-phase decompositions of methylsilane and methylsilane-d₃ have been investigated in a single-pulse shock tube at 4700 torr total pressure in the temperature range of 1125–1250 K. For CH₃SiD₃ at 1200 K three primary steps occur in the homogeneous decomposition with efficiencies in parentheses: , , and . For CH₃SiH₃ at 1200 K the primary CH₄ elimination efficiency is 0.09 while the total primary H₂ elimination efficiency is 0.91. Minor product formations of C₂H₄, acetylene, dimethylsilane, and SiH₄ are discussed.