Into a 3-necked flask equipped with a stirrer, reflux condenser and a gas conduit, is introduced over a period of 5 minutes with constant agitation and at room temperature, 2-liters [measured at 20° C. and 720 mm Hg (abs.) and thus 0.94 percent based on the total weight of the silanes used], of gaseous hydrogen chloride, into a mixture consisting of 253 grams (1 mol) of diphenyldichlorosilane, 88 grams (1 mol) of tetramethylsilane, 3 grams of trichlorosilane and 3 grams diethylaluminum chloride. Stirring is continued for an additional 4 hours while the mixture is heated under reflux. Fractional distillation yields 30 grams of trimethylchlorosilane, 35 grams of phenyldimethylchlorosilane, 80 grams of diphenylmethylchlorosilane and 74 grams of triphenylchlorosilane.
