Pyrolysis Reactions of Disilanes

Decompositions and rearrangements, also synthetic reactions are observed. 

Most details about the pyrolysis of hexamethyldisilane are known, including some estimations of the Si-Si bond energy23 90 91 101 102 (see also p. 52). At atmospheric pressure, decomposition starts at about 600 °C and yields mainly me3SiCH2Sime2H513 and me3SiH494  

At a lower pressure (0.2—0.8 mm Hg) and temperatures of 523—555 °C other reaction products are observed101  

Si2me6, Si2me5Cl or Si2me4Cl2 react at 500—600 °C in the presence of chlorobenzene to compounds with the Si—CH2— Si group and methylchlorosilanes8S  

Radical mechanisms are postulated for all these pyrolysis reactions. Modification of the radical mechanism by the reaction conditions, would explain the variable results. 

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