Highly efficient generation of hydrogen from the hydrolysis of silanes catalyzed by [RhCl(CO)2]2.

Catalytic hydrolysis of silanes mediated by chlorodicarbonylrhodium(I) dimer [RhCl(CO)2]2 to produce silanols and dihydrogen efficiently under mild conditions is reported. Second-order kinetics and activation parameters are determined by monitoring the rate of dihydrogen evolution. The mixing of [RhCl(CO)2]2 and HSiCl3 results in rapid formation of a rhodium silane σ complex.