Resins and Additives Containing Silicon

The synthesis of tetraethylsilane, the first organosilicon compound in which silicon was bonded to carbon, was accomplished in 1863. This reality, when combined with the fact that the carbon and silicon atoms are members of the same periodic group, provided impetus for the idea that there might exist a branch of chemistry in which silicon would take the place of carbon. The pursuit of this idea was the cornerstone of the most careful and extensive series of investigations in organosilicon chemistry. These investigations were initiated by F. S. Kipping ( 1 ). His series of investigations led him ultimately to conclude that the field of organosilicon chemistry did not match that of carbon and that the differences between the two fields were greater than the similarities as the following will indicate ( 2 ): 1. Both carbon and silicon have a normal covalency of four. 2. Both carbon and silicon have their normal bonding