Synthesis of Tris(silyl)methanes by Modified Direct Process

Direct reaction of elemental silicon with a mixture of (dichloromethyl)silanes 1 $[Cl_3-nMenSiCHCl_2:$ n = 0 (a), n = 1(b), n = 2(c), n = 3(d)] and hydrogen chloride has been studied in the presence of copper catalyst using a stirred bed reactor equ ipped with a spiral band agitator at various temperatures from $240^{\circ}C$ to $340^{\circ}C.$ Tris(si-lyl) methanes with Si-H bonds, 3a-d $[Cl_3-nMenSiCH(SiHCl_2)_2]$, and 4a-d $[Cl_3-nMenSiCH(SiHCl_2)(SiCl_3)]$, were obtained as the major products and tris(silyl)methanes having no Si-H bond, 5a-d $[Cl_3-nMenSiCH(SiCl_3)_2]$, as the minor product along with byproducts of bis(chlorosilyl)methanes, derived from the reaction of silicon with chloromethylsilane formed by the decomposition of 1. In addition to those products, trichlorosilane and tetra-chlorosilane were produced by the reaction of elemental silicon with hydrogen chloride. The decomposition of 1 was suppressed and the production of polymeric carbosilanes reduced by adding hydrogen chloride to 1. Cad-mium was a good promoter for and the optimum temperature for this direct synthesis was $280^{\circ}C$.