A process for producing silane by reacting a silicon halide with highly reactive magnesium hydride and a cyclic process for producing silane by reacting mag­nesium hydride with a silicon halide, reacting the magnesium halide co-product with an alkali metal to recover elemental magnesium, and pressure hydrogenating said magnesium to form magnesium hydride and repeat the cycle. A highly reactive magnesium hydride is formed by the homogeneously catalyzed pressure hydrogenation of magnesium, preferably using an activated transition metal catalyst such as TiCl₄ and a polycyclic organic compound such as anthracene. The highly activated magnesium hydride is thereafter used for reaction with silicon halide to produce silane.