Nonahalocyclopentasilanes, HSi5X9, and octahalocyclopentasilanes, H2Si5X8 (X= Cl, Br, I), were prepared by dearylation of the corresponding phenylated cyclosilanes HSi5Ph9 and H2Si5Ph8 with gaseous hydrogen halides and catalytic amounts of aluminum halides (HX/AlX3) dissolved in benzene. The products were identified and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy (1H and 29Si, including Si-H and Si-Si coupling constants). The ...