Process for making silyl ethers

A process for making an organic silyl ether of the empirical formula (R".sub.4-n Si).sub.m O.sub.mn R.sub.n which comprises contacting a carbonate of the formula R(OCO.sub.2 R').sub.m with an organic silyl halide of the formula R".sub.4-n SiX.sub.n in the presence of a catalytic amount of an initiator compound at about 50.degree. C.-250.degree. C. and separating said silyl ether from the resulting reaction mixture, wherein R is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heterocyclic, or aromatic group having a valence of m, R' is a lower alkyl or halogenated lower alkyl group, R" is hydrogen or an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, or heterocyclic monovalent group, m and n each represent an integer from one to three, and X is Cl, Br, or I.