1,3,5,7‐Tetrahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetramethylcyclotetrasilazane and 1,3,5,7‐tetrahydro‐1,2,3,5,6,‐7‐hexamethylcyclotetrasilazane have been prepared by reaction of 1,3‐dichloro‐1,3‐dihydro‐1,3‐dimethyldisilazane with ammonia and methylamine, respectively. The polymerization of these cyclotetrasilazanes by the action of catalytic quantities of potassium hydride and the pyrolysis of the resulting polymers in a stream of argon and in a stream of ammonia is reported. Comparisons are made with the polymers obtained by KH treatment of the ammonolysis product of CH3SiHCl2. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.