Siloxides are chemical compounds with the formula R3SiOM, 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:
R3SiOSiR3 + 2 NaOH → 2 R3SiONa + H2O
Cleavage of cyclic siloxanes affords siloxides:
(Me2SiO)3 + MeLi → Me3SiOSiMe2OSiMe2OSiMe2OLiThese 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-butyl3SiO−, sometimes called silox.
References
Siloxide Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA