The instant invention provides a process for the preparation of bis(chloromethyl)dichlorosilane (BCMCS) or bis(chloromethyl) (aryl)chlorosilane (BCMACS) comprising reacting bis(chloromethyl) diphenylsilane and one or more chloride compounds in the presence of a Lewis acid in an inert solvent and under an inert atmosphere.

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Described are electrolyte compositions having at least one salt and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: wherein a is from 1 to 3; b is 1 or 2; 4a+b2; X is a halogen; R can be alkoxy or substituted alkoxy, among other moieties, and R.sup.1 is alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, or substituted alkoxy. Also described are electrochemical devices that use the electrolyte composition.

A method of synthesizing a high purity acryloxyalkyldimethylchlorosilane involves (a) reacting an acrylate salt with a haloalkyldimethylalkoxysilane to form an acryloxy-substituted alkyldimethylalkoxysilane; and (b) displacing the alkoxy group in the acryloxy-substituted alkyldimethylalkoxysilane using a chloride-containing compound to form the acryloxyalkyldimethylchlorosilane. The acryloxyalkyldimethylchlorosilane, which may be used as an end-capper for AROP, has a purity of greater than about 99% and contains no detectable isomeric or hydrogenated impurities.

Disclosed are methods of synthesizing an amino(halo)silane comprising the step of reacting a halosilane having the formula Si.sub.aH.sub.bX.sub.c with an aminosilane having the formula Si.sub.dH.sub.e(NR.sup.1R.sup.2).sub.f to produce the amino(halo)silane having the formula Si.sub.wH.sub.xX.sub.y(NR.sup.1R.sup.2).sub.z, wherein X=Br or I; each R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is independently selected from a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, aryl, or hetero group; a, d, and w independently=1 to 4; b+c=2a+2; b=1 to 2a+1; c=1 to 2a+1; e+f=2d+2; e=1 to 2d+1; f=1 to 2d+1; x+y+z=2w+2; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be joined to form a nitrogen-containing heterocycle.

Disclosed herein is a stabilized salt-in-solvent mixture comprising a salt, a carbonate solvent, and an organosilicon (OS) compound, wherein the OS compound suppresses degradation reactions within the salt-in-solvent mixture. Also disclosed herein is a method of mitigating degradation of a salt/carbonate solution comprising adding to the salt/carbonate solution an amount of an OS compound that suppresses degradation reactions within the salt/carbonate solution. This OS compound may be added to the carbonate solvent before or after dissolution of the salt to form the salt-in-solvent mixture.

Provided are complexes useful in the conversion of chloro- and bromo-silanes to highly desired iodosilanes such as H.sub.2SiI.sub.2 and HSiI.sub.3, via a halide exchange reaction. The species which mediates this reaction is an iodide reactant comprising aluminum.