Production of organosilanes from polysilanes.

摘要

The present invention is a process for the production of organosilanes from the high-boiling residue resulting from the reaction of organohalides with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process." The present process comprises forming a mixture comprising a organotrihalosilane and the high-boiling residue in the presence of hydrogen gas, a hydrogenolysis catalyst and a redistribution catalyst. The organotrihalosilane and high-boiling residue are converted into commercially useful di- and triorganosilanes and organohydrosilanes. The present process results in consumption of the organotrihalosilane rather than the net increase which typically occurs in the absence of the redistribution catalyst.