Ethanolysis of penta- and tetramethyldisiloxane catalyzed by aqueous hydrochloric acid

The rates of cleavage of the Si–H bond of penta- and tetramethyldisiloxane have been studied. The reaction is first order in the silane and in the dilute acid. However, at high acid concentrations, the rate of reaction is governed by the acidity function of the system: this may indicate fast reversible proton transfer from the solvent to the organosilane in the rate-determining step.

---

Si–H - . . , : , .