Re-examination of the electrochemical reduction of halogeno-silanes and -germanes
Abstract
The electrochemical reduction of halogenosilanes and -germanes in aprotic solvents, to give principally the corresponding dimer, is shown to be an irreversible process taking place at low potentials [–2 to –2·5 V vs. standard calomel electrode (S.C.E.)]; all reduction waves observed at –0·4 V vs. S.C.E. corresponded to the reduction of HCl formed in the hydrolysis.