It has been established by IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and qua
ntum-chemical calculations that dimethylzinc reacts with Aerosil to fo
rm complexes with strained siloxane bonds on the SiO2 surface; subsequ
ent reactions of these complexes with free hydroxyl groups afford Si-O
-Zn-Me and Si-Me surface structures. Alternative ways of formation of
the above-mentioned structures art discussed.