ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF 3-MEMBERED TO 9-MEMBERED CYCLIC POLYSILANES

The electrochemical behaviour of cyclic polysilanes, namely, hexamesit ylcyclotrisilane (Mes(2)Si)(3) (I), 2,3,4-tetra-tert-butyltetramethyl- cyclotetrasilane [t-Bu(Me)Si](4) (II), decaethylcyclopentasilane (Et2S i)(5) (III), decapropylcyclopentasilane (Pr2Si)(5) (IV), dodecamethylc yclohexasilane (Me2Si)(6) (V), tetradecaethylcycloheptasilane (Et2Si)( 7) (VI), hexadecamethylcyclooctasilane (Me2Si)(8) (VII) and octadecame thylcyclononasilane (Me2Si)(9) (VIII), have been studied by cyclic vol tammetry and preparative scale electrolysis. The effects of electrolyt e, ring size and nature of substitutes both on oxidation peak potentia l and upon reactivity as well as style of product are discussed.