Metal Alkoxide synth

[Agent_Smith]

Could someone please post or propose an OTC source or OTC synth for a metal alkoxide, preferably something like tetramethyl or tetraethyl orthosilicate.

Thanks.
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[foxy2]

Agent, Its been a while since you've been around.

Silicon Alkoxides?
Never heard of those

Don't you mean Sodium Alkoxides?
We do have this new beautiful procedure courtesy of Antoncho

Post 257912

(Antoncho: "Alkali metal alkoxides: finally, OTC!", Novel Discourse)

Foxy

Stay Informed

(http://www.mapinc.org/)

[Agent_Smith]

I'm not sure if sodium will work.  I suugested silicon because I'm interested in the react of the alkoxide with water to form a jelly like SiO2 and liquid HOCH₃.  Unless I'm mistaken, this reaction would proceed differently with Na... does NaO2 even exist?
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[Rhodium]

NaO2 does exist, it is sodium oxide. Could you please elaborate on why you are interested in that SiO2 + MeOH reaction?

[Agent_Smith]

So do we know if the NaOCH3 produced in Antonchos reaction reacts in water the same way Si(OCH3)4 does?

Si(OCH3)4 creates a SiO2 gel, can NaOCH3 be expected to do the same?

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[Rhodium]

No, it won't. You need silicon alkoxides for that. What do you want the gel for?

[Agent_Smith]

It would occur to me that Fe, or Sn or maybe Ti would behave like Si and form the gel, no?  How would I modify the procedure Anotoncho showed in order to use one of these?

(Rhodium, I'm sorry to evade your questions, because youre infinitely helpful, but I'd rather not say what I need it for right now, and just point at patent 6,160,190 instead)
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[Agent_Smith]

I did some more checking...  what I really need now is how do I reduce SiO2 to Si, or ultimately SiCl4?

Or mayeb someone knows of a good OTC source of Silicon metal... perhaps some electrical component that contains a good quantitiy for me to pilfer?
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[Agent_Smith]

No one knows?
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[Karl]

Large chunks of Silicon are commonly found as paper weights in semiconductor physicist's offices.

[Osmium]

SiO2 + 2Mg ---> 2MgO + Si
I'm not fat just horizontally disproportionate.

[Neron]

2C + SiO2 -> 2CO + Si
Si + 2Cl2 -> SiCl4 [Prepared by the action of chlorine on hot silicon]
Si + 4HCl -> SiCl4 + 2H2

General
Synonyms: silicon chloride, tetrachlorosilane, silicon (IV) chloride
Molecular formula: SiCl4
CAS No: 10026-04-7

Physical data
Appearance: colourless or light yellow fuming liquid
Melting point: -70 C
Boiling point: 58 C
Vapour density:
Vapour pressure: 194 mm Hg at 20 C
Density (g cm-3): 1.48
Flash point:
Explosion limits:
Autoignition temperature:
Water solubility: decomposes
 
Stability
Moisture sensitive - reacts violently with water. Incompatible with water, acids, bases, alcohols, alkali metals, organics, powdered metals.

Toxicology
Corrosive - may cause burns. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. Stench. Respiratory, skin and eye irritant.
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