Organosilicon compounds ethyl groups

The historical development of the chemistry of organosilicon compounds is closely related to organometallic chemistry. In Bansen s laboratory about the middle of the nineteenth century, Frankland was investigating the reactions of C2HsI with Zn to withdraw the iodine from the C2H5I and form free C2H5 radicals. The product formed was diethyl zinc. It was soon discovered that an ethyl group could be transferred to other elements from this compound if the reaction were favored by the formation of a salt. 

Of the alkylhalosilanes the ethyl as well as the methyl compounds323,327 can be obtained by the direct synthesis with higher homologs decomposition of the alkyl groups increases greatly at the higher reaction temperatures required, and many by-products with little of the organosilicon compound are formed. 

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