| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of cyclic polydiorganosiloxanes, especially octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) by depolymerization of polydiorganosiloxanes in the presence of an initiator, characterized in that the initiator comprises either: 1) at least one hydroxide chosen especially from the group made up of caesium, rubidium or quaternary phosphonium hydroxides, or: 2) the association of a fluorine-free caesium or rubidium salt, or of a salt of quaternary phosphoniums, with a hydroxyl-containing strong base of an alkali or alkaline-earth metal other than Cs and Rb. |