Synthesis of Methoxysilanes by the Reaction of Metallic Silicon with Methanol Using Copper(II) Acetate as the Catalyst

Okamoto M; Mimura N; Suzuki E; Ono Y

Catalysis Letters, Vol.33, No.3-4, 421-427, 1995

The reaction of methanol with silicon was studied using various copper compounds other than the halides. Copper(II) acetate and copper(I) oxide gave high silicon conversions (82%) though the selectivities for trimethoxysilane were low (<19%). The selectivity was appreciably improved by addition of a small amount of thiophene or propyl chloride to the methanol feed.