Hydrochlorination process for converting high-boiling residue from direct process to monosilanes

A hydrochlorination process for the production of monosilanes from the high-boiling residue resulting from the reaction of organochlorides with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process." The process comprises (A) forming a mixture comprising the high-boiling residue and an organosilane and (B) contacting the mixture with hydrogen chloride in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst composition effective in promoting the formation of monosilanes from the high-boiling residue. A preferred catalyst composition comprises aluminum trichloride, at least a portion of which may be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the high-boiling residue.