1,1-Disilylethan, CH3CH(SiH3)2 / 1,1-Disilylethane, CH3CH(SiH3)2

1,1-Bis(trichlorosilyl)ethane, CH CH(SiCl (1) is readily available through catalytic hydrosilylation of vinyltrichlorosilane and silicochloroform (90% yield), or through the base-induced reduction of acetyl chloride using again silicochloroform (60%). 1 can be converted into the title compound 2 in 80% yield by lithium aluminium hydride in di-n-butylether. Compound 2 is a highly volatile liquid (bp. 40-42 °C), not spontaneously inflamable in air. which is of interest as a precursor for chemical vapour deposition of hydrogen-containing silicon/carbon alloys (a-Si, C:H) and silicon carbide. Based on thermodynamical data, it is the least stable isomer of the composition C Si