Homogeneous redox catalysed reduction of chloromethyldimethylchlorosilane

Abstract

The electrochemical reduction of chloromethyldimethylchlorosilane, affording 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-disilacyclobutane, involves a dissociative electron transfer to the LUMO which contains the predominant contribution of the Si-Cl orbitals, and results in the C-Cl bond cleavage. The reduction of trimethylchlorosilane occurs through the dissociative Si-Cl bond rupture. In the course of the reduction of chloromethyltrimethylsilane, the α-silicon stabilisation of the negative charge makes an individual anion radical to appear on the reaction coordinate. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.