DIRECT SYNTHESIS OF METHYLCHLOROSILANE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain the productivity of methylchlorosilane and the selectivity of dimethyldichlorosilane by adding hydrogen chloride for a certain period, when methyl chloride is allowed to react with a catalyst composition containing silicon, a copper catalyst and a cocatalyst. SOLUTION: When methyl chloride is allowed to react with silicon and a copper catalyst [preferably copper (II) oxide composition], a zinc cocatalyst (preferably metallic zinc or the like) and a tin and/or antimony cocatalyst (preferably metallic tin and/or metallic antimony), hydrogen chloride is added to the reaction system in the period of 1-45% of the total process. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogen chloride is added so that the concentration of the HCl may become 0.8-3 wt.% based on the mass of the methyl chloride. In one reaction process, HCl is preferably added 3 or more times. The time of the individual HCl additions is preferably for 25 minutes to 2 hours and the total time of the HCl addition is preferably 10-30% based on the whole time of the reaction processes.