What is "siloxide"

Siloxides are chemical compounds with the formula RSiOM, where R is usually an organic group and M is usually a metal cation. Also called silanoates, they are derived by deprotonation of silanols. They also arise by the degradation of siloxanes by base:

RSiOSiR + 2 NaOH → 2 RSiONa + HO

Cleavage of cyclic siloxanes affords siloxides:

(MeSiO) + MeLi → MeSiOSiMeOSiMeOSiMeOLi

These anions function as ligands for metal ions, forming complexes similar to metal alkoxides. Triphenylsiloxide is a common derivative useful for generating metal complexes. A very bulky siloxide is tert-butylSiO, sometimes called silox.