Isocyclic Silanes

Isocyclic silanes are only known in the form of derivatives. Unsubstituted cyclic hydrosilicons have not been investigated, though SisHio was recently prepared (see p. 6). The best known derivatives are those with the simple organic groups like methyl or phenyl. Derivatives with other groups are rare. 

Some inorganic cyclic silanes with halogen substituents have been investigated, thoug their properties are almost unknown, and even their existence is controversial. 

The chemical reactions of this compound are not known very well. One can completely destroy the ring to means of an alkaline hydrolysis, a reaction which yields simple units with one silicon atom. Gilman and Inoue198 cleaved the ring with phosphorous pentachloride or tetrachloroethane to Si chain compounds of various chain lengths, those from four to six predominating, but including smaller chains 

The Li compounds thus formed are able to react with the starting material, resulting in different chain lengths  

The formation of various cyclic silanes results from an intramolecular tp3 SiLi elimination  

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