Hexamethyldisilane (TMS<sub>2</sub>) is the organosilicon compound with the formula Si<sub>2</sub>(CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>6</sub>, abbreviated Si<sub>2</sub>Me<sub>6</sub>. It is a colourless liquid, soluble in organic solvents.
Hexamethyldisilane can be produced by Wurtz-like coupling of trimethylsilyl chloride in the presence of a reducing agent such as potassium graphite:
With an excess of the reductant, the alkali metal silyl derivative is produced:
The Si-Si bond in hexamethyldisilane is cleaved by strong nucleophiles and electrophiles. Alkyl lithium compounds react as follows:
Iodine gives trimethylsilyl iodide.