Catalysis of triethoxysilane disproportionation with oligoethylene glycol ethers

Oligoethylene glycol ethers catalyze the disproportionation of triethoxysilane to tetraethoxysilane and silane both at room temperature and upon heating. For comparison, the CsF-catalyzed disproportionation of triethoxysilane has been examined and found more facile. Mechanisms of the reactions involving formation of hypervalent silicon complexes have been discussed.