Tetraethylsilane

Tetraethylsilane
Names
	IUPAC name Tetraethylsilane
	Other names Tetraethylsilicon;
Identifiers
CAS Number	631-36-7 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	11919;
ECHA InfoCard	100.010.142
EC Number	211-155-0;
PubChem CID	12426;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID1060891;
	InChI InChI=1S/C8H20Si/c1-5-9(6-2,7-3)8-4/h5-8H2,1-4H3 Key: VCZQFJFZMMALHB-UHFFFAOYSA-N;
	SMILES CC[Si](CC)(CC)CC;
Properties
Chemical formula	Si(CH2CH3)4
Molar mass	144.333 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colorless liquid
Odor	Distinct, mild
Density	0.761 g/cm3
Melting point	−82.5 °C (−116.5 °F; 190.7 K)
Boiling point	153–154 °C (307–309 °F; 426–427 K)
Solubility in water	Almost insoluble in water
Vapor pressure	5 mmHg at 20 °C (68 °F)
Refractive index (nD)	1.426
Structure
Molecular shape	Tetrahedral at Si
Hazards
	Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Flammable
	GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H226, H315, H319, H335
Precautionary statements	P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P264+P265, P271, P280, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P319, P321, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, P501
Flash point	25 °C
Autoignition; temperature	235 °C (455 °F; 508 K)
Related compounds
Related compounds	Tetraethylmethane; Tetraethylgermanium; Tetraethyltin; Tetraethyllead;
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Tetraethylsilane is an organosilicon compound with the chemical formula Si(CH₂CH₃)₄. It is a colorless liquid. Under standard coditions, it does not react with water, air, nitric acid or concentrated potassium hydroxide.^[4] Its vapor density is 4.98, relative to air (air = 1).^[2]

Synthesis

The synthesis of tetraethylsilane by reacting silicon tetrachloride with diethylmercury or diethylzinc in an ampoule at 140–160 °C (284–320 °F) was first reported in 1863 by Charles Friedel and James Mason Crafts.^[4]^[5]

SiCl₄ + 2 Zn(CH₂CH₃)₂ → Si(CH₂CH₃)₄ + 2 ZnCl₂

Uses

Tetraethylsilane reacts with halides of the boron group elements, such as boron tribromide or gallium trichloride with high yield and purity to form the corresponding dihaloethyl compound.^[6]

Si(CH₂CH₃)₄ + BBr₃ → (CH₃CH₂)₃SiBr + CH₃CH₂BBr₂

Si(CH₂CH₃)₄ + GaCl₃ → (CH₃CH₂)₃SiCl + CH₃CH₂GaCl₂

References

^ ^a ^b PubChem. "Tetraethylsilane". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Tetraethylsilane". sigmaaldrich.com. Retrieved February 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c "TETRAETHYLSILANE" (PDF). gelest.com. October 23, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c Friedel, C.; Crafts, J. M. (January 1863). "Ueber einige neue organische Verbindungen des Siliciums und das Atomgewicht dieses Elementes". Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie. 127 (1): 28–32. doi:10.1002/jlac.18631270103. ISSN 0075-4617.
^ Soukup, Rudolf Werner (2020). Chemiegeschichtliche Daten organischer Substanzen [Chemical history data of organic substances] (in German).
^ Schmidbaur, H.; Findeiss, W. (October 1964). "A Simple Route to Organogallium Compounds". Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English. 3 (10): 696–696. doi:10.1002/anie.196406961. ISSN 0570-0833. Archived from the original on 2021-07-22.

[pubchem-1] PubChem. "Tetraethylsilane". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-11.

[sigmaaldrich-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Tetraethylsilane". sigmaaldrich.com. Retrieved February 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[gelest-3] "TETRAETHYLSILANE" (PDF). gelest.com. October 23, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[chemistry-europe-4] Friedel, C.; Crafts, J. M. (January 1863). "Ueber einige neue organische Verbindungen des Siliciums und das Atomgewicht dieses Elementes". Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie. 127 (1): 28–32. doi:10.1002/jlac.18631270103. ISSN 0075-4617.

[rudolf-werner-soukup-5] Soukup, Rudolf Werner (2020). Chemiegeschichtliche Daten organischer Substanzen [Chemical history data of organic substances] (in German).

[onlinelibrary-6] Schmidbaur, H.; Findeiss, W. (October 1964). "A Simple Route to Organogallium Compounds". Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English. 3 (10): 696–696. doi:10.1002/anie.196406961. ISSN 0570-0833. Archived from the original on 2021-07-22.

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