Process for the production of polysulfide silane compounds

A process for the production of polysulfide silane compounds of the general formula (I)

• Z-R1-Sn-R1-Z, (I)
• in which
• R1 represents branched or unbranched alkyl groups having 1 to 8 C atoms and while may be interrupted by O, N or S atoms or alkylaromatics of the type (CH2)pPh(CH2)p having 8 to 14 C atoms, wherein p is an integer from 1 to 4 and n is an integer from 1 to 4, and
• Z represents residues of the type (R2O)3−mR2mSi, in which the residues R2 may be identical or different and consist of branched or unbranched alkyl residues having 1 to 6 C atoms and m is 0, 1 or 2, comprising:
• reacting silylalkyl halides of the general formula (II)
• ZR1X, (II)
• in which X corresponds to Cl, Br or I and Z and R1 have the above-stated meanings, with alkali metal polysulfides of the general formula (III)
• M2Sn, (III)
• wherein
• M denotes the alkali metals Na and K and n has the above-stated meaning,
• wherein the alkali metal polysulfides M2Sn are obtained by:
• reacting alkali metal hydroxides of the general formula (IV)
• MOH, (IV)
• in which M has the above-stated meaning, with elemental sulfur, in a non-aqueous solvent or without solvent.