Strong-base-catalyzed silanol condensation

The rate equation (equation 24) for strong-base-catalyzed silanol condensation was based on model studies with trimethylsilanol that were intended to mimic silanol condensation polymerizations (73). 

The condensation catalyzed by a strong base is first order with respect to substrate and catalyst (74,75). Because of the high acidity of silanol, all the alkah metal base (MtOH) is usually transformed into the silanolate anion. In the rate-determining step, the sdanolate anion attacks the siHcon atom in the silanol end group (eq. 12 and 13). 

---