Trimethylsilyl derivatives for the study of silicate structures. Part I. A direct method of trimethylsilylation

Abstract

The products formed in the trimethylsilylation of hemimorphite Zn4(OH)2,Si2O7,H2O by the Lentz technique were studied by varying time, temperature, and acidity of the reaction medium. Conversion of the mineral into the trimethylsilyl derivative of the anion Si2O76– without appreciable by-products was achieved by allowing the finely ground material to react with trimethylsilyl chloride in the presence of isopropyl alcohol and hexamethyldisioxane. The proportion of the expected dimeric derivative was independent of reaction conditions over a wide range. The mechanism of trimethylsilylation is discussed.