A process for preparing cyclic organohydrogensiloxanes is disclosed. The
process comprises the steps of (A) and (B). Step (A) comprising
contacting a silane of the formula RHSiCl.sub.2, where R is selected from
alkyl radicals having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and aryl radicals, with water
to form a hydrolyzate. The hydrolyzate formed in step (A) comprising
cyclic organohydrogensiloxanes and linear organohydrogensiloxanes. Step
(B) comprising contacting the hydrolyzate formed in (A) with an acidic
rearrangement catalyst in the presence of an inert liquid diluent to
increase the ratio of the cyclic organohydrogensiloxanes to linear
organohydrogensiloxanes in the hydrolyzate. The process further
characterized by that the acidic rearrangement catalyst is an organic
compound containing a strong acid group which is dissolved in the inert
diluent present.