The reaction of free radicals with trichlorosilane

Abstract

Trifluoromethyl radicals generated from the photolysis of hexafluoroacetone abstract hydrogen atoms from trichlorosilane; the competitive abstraction of chlorine atoms does not occur under the experimental conditions. The rate of the abstraction                          CF₃ + SiHCl₃ → CF₃N + SiCl₃ has been measured in comparison with the known rate for the recombination of trifluoromethyl radicals, to yield a rate constant,                    k = 10^12.13exp(-6850/RT) ml mole^-1 sec^-1 Methyl radicals similarly abstract hydrogen to yield methane. A quantitative study of this reaction proved impractical, due to complications using acetone as a radical source.