Silanes refers to diverse kinds of charge-neutral silicon compounds with the formula . The R substituents can any combination of organic
or inorganic groups.
Most silanes contain Si-C bonds, and are discussed under
organosilicon compound
Organosilicon compounds are organometallic compounds containing carbon–silicon bonds. Organosilicon chemistry is the corresponding science of their preparation and properties. Most organosilicon compounds are similar to the ordinary organic c ...
s.
Examples:
*
Silane
Silane is an inorganic compound with chemical formula, . It is a colourless, pyrophoric, toxic gas with a sharp, repulsive smell, somewhat similar to that of acetic acid. Silane is of practical interest as a precursor to elemental silicon. Sila ...
, the parent.
*
Binary silicon-hydrogen compounds
Silanes are saturated chemical compounds with the empirical formula SixHy. They are hydrosilanes, a class of compounds that includes compounds with Si-H and other Si-X bonds. All contain tetrahedral silicon and terminal hydrides. They only have Si ...
(which are sometimes called silanes also) includes silane itself but also compounds with Si-Si bonds including
disilane
Disilane is a chemical compound with chemical formula Si2H6 that was identified in 1902 by Henri Moissan and Samuel Smiles (1877–1953). Moissan and Smiles reported disilane as being among the products formed by the action of dilute acids on meta ...
and longer chains.
*Silanes with one, two, three, or four Si-H bonds are called
hydrosilane
Hydrosilanes are tetravalent silicon compounds containing one or more Si-H bond. The parent hydrosilane is silane (SiH4). Commonly, hydrosilane refers to organosilicon derivatives. Examples include phenylsilane (PhSiH3) and triethoxysilane ((C2H5 ...
s. Silane itself is the parent member. Examples:
triethylsilane
Triethylsilane is the organosilicon compound with the formula (C2H5)3SiH. It is a trialkylsilane. The Si-H bond is reactive. This colorless liquid is used in organic synthesis as a reducing agent and as a precursor to silyl ethers. As one of the ...
() and
triethoxysilane ().
*
Polysilanes
Polysilanes are organosilicon compounds with the formula (R2Si)n. They are relatives of traditional organic polymers but their backbones are composed of silicon atoms. They exhibit distinctive optical and electrical properties. They are mainly use ...
are organosilicon compounds with the formula . They include all
binary silicon-hydrogen compounds
Silanes are saturated chemical compounds with the empirical formula SixHy. They are hydrosilanes, a class of compounds that includes compounds with Si-H and other Si-X bonds. All contain tetrahedral silicon and terminal hydrides. They only have Si ...
except the parent, although these tend to be less useful because they are fragile. Attracting more interest, are the organic derivatives such as polydimethylsilane and
dodecamethylcyclohexasilane
Dodecamethylcyclohexasilane is the organosilicon compound with the formula . It is one of the more readily prepared and easily handled polysilanes. Dodecamethylcyclohexasilane is produced by reduction of dimethyldichlorosilane with sodium-potassi ...
*
Chlorosilanes have Si-Cl bonds. Examples:
trichlorosilane
Trichlorosilane is an inorganic compound with the formula HCl3Si. It is a colourless, volatile liquid. Purified trichlorosilane is the principal precursor to ultrapure silicon in the semiconductor industry. In water, it rapidly decomposes to pr ...
() and
tetrachlorosilane ()
*Organosilanes are a class of charge-neutral
organosilicon compound
Organosilicon compounds are organometallic compounds containing carbon–silicon bonds. Organosilicon chemistry is the corresponding science of their preparation and properties. Most organosilicon compounds are similar to the ordinary organic c ...
s. Example:
tetramethylsilane ()
By tradition, compounds with Si-O-Si bonds are usually not referred to as silanes. Instead, they are called siloxanes. One example is
hexamethyldisiloxane, .
See also
*
Silenes
Silene, or disilalkenes,Philip P. Power "pi-Bonding and the Lone Pair Effect in Multiple Bonds between Heavier Main Group Elements" Chemical Reviews, 1999, 99, 3462. are silicon compounds that contain Si=Si double bonds. The parent silene is ( ...
References
{{reflist
Silanes
Trimethylsilyl compounds
Carbosilanes