Abstract: A novel and effective method for the synthetic preparation of dialkylchlorosilanes as an important intermediate in the silicone industry is provided, which is based on the selectivity of a specific combination of a reaction solvent and a reducing agent in the dechlorination-reduction of one of the two silicon-bonded chlorine atoms present in a dialkyldichlorosilane to convert the Si-Cl linkages to Si-H. The reaction solvent used is either N,N'-dimethylimidazolidinone or N,N,N',N',N",N"-hexamethyl-phosphoric triamide, while the reducing agent is sodium borohydride, optionally in combination with sodium hydride.