Synthetical applications of activated metal catalysts. XXV. The hydrogenolysis of some phenyl derivatives of silicon by Raney nickel

Abstract

Tetraphenylsilane and 11 related compounds have been cleaved by treatment at atmospheric pressure with Raney nickel catalysts to give mixtures of benzene and cyclohexane. Yields exceeding 90% are obtained with degassed Raney nickel and silanes. Silanols and siloxanes are less readily spilt. The presence of methanol in the reaction mixtures retards the fission of silicon-phenyl bonds. Tetracyclo-hexylsilane, cyclohexyltrimethylsilane, and hexa(n-hexyl)disiloxane did not react detectably with Raney nickel. Raney cobalt had no effect on tetraphenylsilane. A mechanism for the new reaction is discussed which involves chemisorption via the silicon atom, ejection of a phenyl anion, and hydrogenolysis of the absorbed triphenylsilyl species.