
%0 Journal Article
%A Sasse, WHF 
%A Wade, KO 
%T Synthetical applications of activated metal catalysts. XXV. The hydrogenolysis of some phenyl derivatives of silicon by Raney nickel
%J Australian Journal of Chemistry
%D 1966/10/01
%V 19
%N 10
%P 1897-1908
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9661897
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CH9661897 
%X 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. 
