When producing chlorosilanes by a reaction between metallic silicon and hydrogen chloride, as the above metallic silicon, a metallic silicon powder having an oil adhering amount of 5 ppmw or less is subjected to the reaction as the metallic silicon.

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.

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.

A method for making chlorinated silazanes. The method comprises contacting: (a) a disilazane; (b) a chlorosilane; and (c) a catalyst which is a zinc salt of: (i) a sulfonic acid or (ii) a sulfonic acid imide.

A method for making chlorinated silazanes. The method comprises contacting: (a) a disilazane; (b) a chlorosilane; and (c) a catalyst which is a zinc salt of: (i) a sulfonic acid or (ii) a sulfonic acid imide.

The invention relates to a method for cleaving silicon-silicon bindings and/or silicon-chlorine bindings in monosilanes, polysilanes, and/or oligosilanes. According to the invention, the monosilane, polysilane, and/or oligosilane is dissolved or suspended in an ether or in an ether-hydrochloric acid solution. Said method is used for example for preparing halogenated oligosilanes from halogenated polysilanes and for preparing siloxanes from organochlorosilanes and chlorinated monosilanes. Said method is particularly simple to carry out and as a result is economical.

The invention relates to a method for cleaving silicon-silicon bindings and/or silicon-chlorine bindings in monosilanes, polysilanes, and/or oligosilanes. According to the invention, the monosilane, polysilane, and/or oligosilane is dissolved or suspended in an ether or in an ether-hydrochloric acid solution. Said method is used for example for preparing halogenated oligosilanes from halogenated polysilanes and for preparing siloxanes from organochlorosilanes and chlorinated monosilanes. Said method is particularly simple to carry out and as a result is economical.

A method is useful for preparing partially hydrogenated chlorosilanes by selective hydrogenation with a compound of the formula R.sub.2AlH, wherein R is a branched or cyclic hydrocarbon. Partially hydrogenated chlorosilanes can be prepared with said method, in particular partially hydrogenated chlorosilanes represented by the formula Cl.sub.3SiSi(SiH.sub.3).sub.3, (Cl.sub.3Si).sub.2Si(SiH.sub.3).sub.2 or HSi(SiH.sub.3).sub.2SiCl.sub.3.

A method is useful for preparing partially hydrogenated chlorosilanes by selective hydrogenation with a compound of the formula R.sub.2AlH, wherein R is a branched or cyclic hydrocarbon. Partially hydrogenated chlorosilanes can be prepared with said method, in particular partially hydrogenated chlorosilanes represented by the formula Cl.sub.3SiSi(SiH.sub.3).sub.3, (Cl.sub.3Si).sub.2Si(SiH.sub.3).sub.2 or HSi(SiH.sub.3).sub.2SiCl.sub.3.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of trichlorosilane (HSiCl3) which comprises the reaction of tetrachlorosilane (SiCU) with hydridosilanes in the presence of a catalyst.