ABSTRACT
Although there are currently no commercial applications for silahydrocarbons, this class of compounds has such unique properties that it remains interesting. The term “silahydrocarbons” is used here to describe a class of compounds that is more correctly termed tetraalkylsilanes (SiR4). The alkyl groups on silicon can be the same or different. Additionally, the alkyl groups can be straightchained (i.e., n-alkyl) or branched. For reasons discussed later, the silahydrocarbons of most interest have been those that contain n-alkyl groups. In this chapter, the term “silahydrocarbon” refers generically to the class of compounds; “tetraalkylsilane” is used as appropriate to clarify discussions of the chemistry.
