Disiloxane

Disiloxane (DSO) is a hydrogen-bearing silicon compound with the formula H₃SiOSiH₃ analog to methyl ether in organic chemistry. It is the simplest silicon ether and a colourless gas.

Production

Today, DSO is primarily produced by converting silane or silicon via gasification to a mixture of silicon monoxide, and hydrogen. This mixture is then converted into DSO in the presence of a catalyst. As described, this is a one-step (direct synthesis) process that permits both silanol synthesis and dehydration in the same process unit, with no silanol isolation and purification. Disiloxane reacts at low temperatures with aluminium halides to give the corresponding silyl and silylene halides and monosilane. Disiloxane is generally considered to be stable in water. It is more soluble than dimethyl ether. It hydrolyses very slowly:

H₃SiOSiH₃ + 3 H₂O → 2 SiO₂ + 6 H₂

Alternatively disiloxane can be prepared in the lab according to the following reactions:

H₃SiX + H₂O → H₃SiOH + HX

2 H₃SiOH → H₃SiOSiH₃ + H₂O

Unlike dimethyl ether, it can be produced via autocondensation without a catalyst, as silanol is relatively unstable.