Reaction of silicon with alcohols in autoclave.

A reaction of activated silicon with alcohols in an autoclave at 240-270 °C was studied. It was found that primary alcohols form tetraalkoxysilanes Si(OR) with high selectivity (up to 97%), while the secondary PrOH gave a mixture of compounds HSi(OPr), Si(OPr), HSi(OPr)OSi(OPr)H, HSi(OPr)OSi(OPr), and Si(OPr)OSi(OPr) with the predominance of trialkoxysilane (up to 67%). Carrying out the reaction under the indicated conditions has the advantage of experimental simplicity, reagent availability, high conversion of silicon, good isolated yields of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]