Electrochemical oxidation of deca-n-propylcyclopentasilane [(n-Pr) 2Si]5, dodecamethylcyclohexasilane (Me2Si)6 and tetradecaethylcycloheptasilane (Et2Si)7

Abstract

The electrochemical oxidation of three cyclic polysilane derivatives, namely [(n-Pr)2Si]5 (I), (Me2Si)6 (II) and (Et2Si)7 (III), in dichloromethane or methanol, in the presence of C1O-4, HSO-4 or AcO- salts, on graphite or Pt anodes, provides cyclic and linear siloxanes as major products, stemming from oxygen insertion and ring-opening processes respectively. The effects of ring-size, electrolyte, solvent, atmosphere and anode material are discussed.