Abstract: A method for dehydrocoupling silanes and amines. The method comprises contacting: (a) an aliphatic amine; (b) a silane; and (c) a catalyst which is ZnX2, wherein X is alkyl, chloride, bromide, iodide, trifluoromethanesulfonate, bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide, tosylate, methanesulfonate or O3S(CF2)xCF3 wherein x is an integer from 1 to 10.