From SiO2 to Alkoxysilanes for the Synthesis of Useful Chemicals

Wahyu S Putro; Vladimir Ya Lee; Kazuhiko Sato; Jun-Chul Choi; Norihisa Fukaya

doi:10.1021/acsomega.1c05138

From SiO₂ to Alkoxysilanes for the Synthesis of Useful Chemicals

ACS Omega. 2021 Dec 3;6(51):35186-35195. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05138. eCollection 2021 Dec 28.

Authors

Wahyu S Putro¹, Vladimir Ya Lee², Kazuhiko Sato¹, Jun-Chul Choi¹, Norihisa Fukaya¹

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Interdisciplinary Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry, Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
² Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan.

Abstract

The transformation of silica (SiO₂) to useful chemicals is difficult to explore because of the strength of the Si-O bond and thermodynamic stability of the SiO₂ structure. The direct formation of alkoxysilanes from SiO₂ has been explored as an alternative to the carbothermal reduction (1900 °C) of SiO₂ to metallic silicon (Si_met) followed by treatment with alcohols. The base-catalyzed depolymerization of SiO₂ with diols and monoalcohols afforded cyclic silicon alkoxides and tetraalkoxysilanes, respectively. SiO₂ can also be converted to alkoxysilanes in the presence of organic carbonates, such as dimethyl carbonate. Alkoxysilanes can be further converted to useful chemicals, such as carbamates, organic carbonates, and chlorosilanes. An interesting and highly efficient pathway to the direct conversion of SiO₂ to alkoxysilanes has been discussed in detail along with the corresponding economic and environmental implications. The thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of SiO₂ transformations in the presence of alcohols are also discussed.

Publication types

Review