Silane physical constants

Kumada et al.359 prepared linear methylpolysilanes up to n = 12 by Wurtz synthesis from different chloromethyldisilanes and found by investigation of the physical constants that the melting points of the silanes up to n = 7 do not rise continuously but follow in a zigzag course since the polysilanes with an odd number of silicon atoms melt at a lower temperature, than those with an even number of silicon atoms, though this effect is less pronounced with higher n. 

It will be noted that the introduction of oxygen into the molecular structure of the silanes or their derivatives brings about a distinct departure in physical properties from those of the unoxidized silanes or of the corresponding carbon compounds. Thus the normal silanes exhibit at least a physical resemblance to their organic counterparts, as is shown by the constant ratio of absolute boiling points given in Table I,... 

---