Convenient two step synthesis of 29Si labelled tetraalkoxysilanes

Abstract

²⁹Si enrichment would be advantageous for many NMR studies of the structural properties of sol–gel derived materials. The required starting materials (²⁹Si enriched alkoxysilanes), however, are expensive and difficult to provide. Here we present a scalable, reliable synthesis of ²⁹Si enriched tetraethoxysilane starting from silicon dioxide or elemental silicon with a total yield up to 75%.