Siloxane
Organic functional group (Si–O–Si)
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Structure
Siloxanes generally adopt structures expected for linked tetrahedral ("sp3-like") centers. The Si−O bond length is 1.64 Å (vs Si−C distance of 1.92 Å) and the Si−O−Si angle is rather open at 142.5°. By contrast, the C−O distance in a typical dialkyl ether is much shorter at 1.414(2) Å with a more acute C−O−C angle of 111°. It can be appreciated that the siloxanes would have low barriers for rotation about the Si−O bonds as a consequence of low steric hindrance. This geometric consideration is the basis of the useful properties of some siloxane-containing materials, such as their low glass transition temperatures.
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Synthesis
The main route to siloxane functional group is by hydrolysis of silicon chlorides:
- 2 R3Si−Cl + H2O → R3Si−O−SiR3 + 2 HCl
The reaction proceeds via the initial formation of silanols (R3Si−OH):
- R3Si−Cl + H2O → R3Si−OH + HCl
The siloxane bond can then form via a silanol + silanol pathway or a silanol + chlorosilane pathway:
- 2 R3Si−OH → R3Si−O−SiR3 + H2O
- R3Si−OH + R3Si−Cl → R3Si−O−SiR3 + HCl
Hydrolysis of a silyldichloride can afford linear or cyclic products. Linear products are terminated with silanol groups:
- n R2Si(OH)2 → H(R2SiO)nOH + (n - 1) H2O
Cyclic products have no silanol termini:
- n R2Si(OH)2 → (R2SiO)n + n H2O
The linear polymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), is of commercial significance. It is produced using dimethylsilicon dichloride.
Starting from trisilanols, cages are possible, such as the species with the formula (RSi)nO3n/2 with cubic (n = 8) and hexagonal prismatic (n = 12) structures. The cubic cages are cubane-type clusters, with silicon centers at the corners of a cube oxygen centres spanning each of the twelve edges.
Reactions
Oxidation of organosilicon compounds, including siloxanes, gives silicon dioxide. This conversion is illustrated by the combustion of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane:
- ((CH3)2SiO)3 + 12 O2 → 3 SiO2 + 6 CO2 + 9 H2O
Strong bases degrade the siloxane group, often affording siloxide salts:
- ((CH3)3Si)2O + 2 NaOH → 2 (CH3)3SiONa + H2O
This reaction proceeds by production of silanols. Similar reactions are used industrially to convert cyclic siloxanes to linear polymers.
Uses
Polysiloxanes (silicones), upon combustion in an inert atmosphere, generally undergo pyrolysis to form silicon oxycarbide or silicon carbide (SiC). By exploiting this reaction, polysiloxanes have been used as preceramic polymers in various processes including additive manufacturing. Polyvinyl siloxane (vinyl polysiloxane) is used to make dental impressions and industrial impressions. The use of a poly-siloxane precursor in polymer-derived ceramics allows the formation of ceramic bodies with complex shapes, although the significant shrinkage in pyrolysis needs to be taken into account.
Trisiloxanes may be used as diffusion pump fluid.
Cyclomethicones
Cyclomethicones are a group of methyl siloxanes, a class of liquid silicones (cyclic polydimethylsiloxane polymers) that possess the characteristics of low viscosity and high volatility as well as being skin emollients and in certain circumstances useful cleaning solvents. Unlike dimethicones, which are linear siloxanes that do not evaporate, cyclomethicones are cyclic: both groups consist of a backbone of [(CH3)2SiO]n. They are used in many cosmetic products including deodorants and antiperspirants which need to coat the skin but not remain tacky afterward. Dow is a major producer of cyclomethicones.
Cyclomethicones, like all siloxanes, degrade by hydrolysis, producing silanols. These silanols are produced at such low levels that they do not interfere with hydrolytic enzymes. Even though some cyclomethicones structurally resemble crown ethers, they bind metal ions only weakly.
Nomenclature
The word siloxane is derived from the words silicon, oxygen, and alkane. In some cases, siloxane materials are composed of several different types of siloxane groups; these are labeled according to the number of Si−O bonds:
- M-units: (CH3)3SiO0.5
- D-units: (CH3)2SiO
- T-units: (CH3)SiO1.5
Safety and environmental considerations
Because silicones are heavily used in biomedical and cosmetic applications, their toxicology has been intensively examined. "The inertness of silicones toward warmblooded animals has been demonstrated in a number of tests." With an LD50 in rats of >50 g/kg, they are virtually nontoxic. Questions remain however about chronic toxicity or the consequences of bioaccumulation since siloxanes can be long-lived.
Findings about bioaccumulation have been largely based on laboratory studies. Field studies of bioaccumulation have not reached consensus. "Even if the concentrations of siloxanes we have found in fish are high compared to concentrations of classical contaminants like PCBs, several other studies in the Oslo Fjord in Norway, Lake Pepin in the US, and Lake Erie in Canada have shown concentrations of siloxanes decrease at higher range in the food chain. This finding raises questions about which factors influence the bioaccumulation potential of siloxanes."
Cyclomethicones are ubiquitous because they are widely used in biomedical and cosmetic applications. They can be found at high levels in American cities. They can be toxic to aquatic animals in concentrations often found in the environment. The cyclomethicones octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) are bioaccumulative in some aquatic organisms, according to one report.
In the European Union, D4, D5, D6 and octamethyltrisiloxane have been deemed hazardous as per the REACH regulation. They were characterized as substances of very high concern (SVHC) in 2024 due to their persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties and were subsequently added to the REACH Candidate List in 2025. Canada regulates D4 under a pollution prevention plan. A scientific review in Canada in 2011 concluded that "Siloxane D5 does not pose a danger to the environment."