What is "hexamethyldisilane"

Hexamethyldisilane is the organosilicon compound with the formula Si(CH), abbreviated SiMe. It is a colourless liquid, soluble in organic solvents.

The Si-Si bond in hexamethyldisilane is cleaved by strong nucleophiles and electrophiles. Alkyl lithium compounds react as follows:

SiMe + RLi → RSiMe + LiSiMe

Iodine gives trimethylsilyl iodide.

MeSi−SiMe + I → 2 SiMeI