2/28/2012 - Synthesis of Organochlorosilanes

   Again following the history of organometallics, a very important duo comes into the scene Charles Friedel, and James Mason Crafts (the brains behind the technology of Friedel-Crafts reactions) and harnessed their chemistry to the production of organochlorosilanes.  These molecules create the very important bond between a Carbon and a Silicon atom in many different mole ratios (up to 4 different Carbon-Silicon bonds around the silicon center).  The way this reaction is performed is through the addition between a silicon tetrachloride and a alkylzinc compound to produce the organochlorosilane and a zinc chloride salt.

SiCl₄ + (k/2)ZnR₂ →   R_kSiCl_4-k + (k/2)ZnCl₂