Synthetic pathways to disilylmethane, H₃SiCH₂SiH₃, and methyldisilane, CH₃SiH₂SiH₃

Disilylmethane is available in a four‐step synthesis starting with phenylsilane. This is converted into chlorophenylsilane by HCl/AlCl₃. The reaction of PhSiH₂Cl and dibromomethane with magnesium in tetrahydrofuran affords bis(phenylsilyl)‐methane, which yields bis(bromosilyl)methane by treatment with anhydrous hydrogen bromide. (BrH₂Si)₂CH₂ is converted into disilylmethane by reduction with LiAlH₄ in a two‐phase system using a phase‐transfer catalyst. ‐ Methyldisilane is available by alkylation of a monohalodisilane, XSi₂H₅ (X  Cl, Br), with methyllithium in a high‐boiling ether or by silylation of bromomethylsilane with silylpotassium. Due to secondary silylation reactions the overall yields of methyldisilane are low in all cases.