The Reduction of Methyl Acetate with Several Hydrosilanes under γ Irradiation

The reduction of methyl acetate with chlorinated hydrosilanes, HSiCl3−nRn(R=CH3 or OCH3, n=0–2), and triethylsilane under γ irradiation has been studied. The hydrosilanes other than triethylsilane reduce the ester to ethyl methyl ether. The reaction rate is proportional to the hydrosilane concentration and is independent of the methyl acetate concentration. The results indicate that the rate-determining step in the reduction reaction is the hydrogen abstraction from the hydrosilanes. The reactivities of the chlorinated hydrosilanes in the reaction increase with the progressive chlorine substitution on the silicon atom and may be due to the susceptibility of each H–Si bond toward free radicals, (Remark: Graphics omitted.).