{{short description|Group of chemical compounds}} '''Siloxides''' are chemical compounds with the formula R<sub>3</sub>SiOM, where R is usually an organic group and M is usually a metal cation. Also called silanolates, they are derived by deprotonation of silanols. They also arise by the degradation of siloxanes by base:<ref name=Krempner/> :R<sub>3</sub>SiOSiR<sub>3</sub> + 2 NaOH → 2 R<sub>3</sub>SiONa + H<sub>2</sub>O
Cleavage of cyclic siloxanes affords siloxides: :(Me<sub>2</sub>SiO)<sub>3</sub> + MeLi → Me<sub>3</sub>SiOSiMe<sub>2</sub>OSiMe<sub>2</sub>OLi
These anions function as ligands for metal ions, forming complexes similar to metal alkoxides. Sodium trimethylsiloxide is useful for generating metal complexes by salt metathesis reactions. A very bulky siloxide is tert-butyl<sub>3</sub>SiO<sup>−</sup>, sometimes called silox.
Siloxides are weaker net donors than alkoxides because p<sub>π</sub>-d donation has to compete with backbonding from the oxygen atom into the low-lying Si-C σ<sup>*</sup> orbitals.<ref name=Krempner>{{cite journal |last1=Krempner |first1=Clemens |title=Role of Siloxides in Transition Metal Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis |journal=Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. |year=2011 |volume=2011 |issue=11 |page=1689 |doi=10.1002/ejic.201100044 |url=https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejic.201100044|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==References== <references/>
Category:Organosilicon compounds