linear hydroxy endblocked linear polyorganosiloxanes , linear chloro - endblocked polyorganosiloxanes , and mixtures thereof , are redistributed in a process by contacting the linear polyorganosiloxanes , with a diorganodichlorosilane having the formula r ′ 2 sicl 2 , wherein r ′ is an alkyl group containing 1 - 8 carbon atoms ; in the presence of an aqueous hydrochloric acid catalyst ; to form a redistributed mixture containing cyclic polyorganosiloxanes and chloro - endblocked polyorganosiloxanes . the process generates less amounts of undesired branched siloxane species than processes which utilize an alumina catalyst .