The discovery of linear SiC₄ was reported in 1989 by Ohishi et al. It was observed in IRC+10216, where numerous other carbon-chain molecules have been found, using the 45 meter telescope at Nobeyama Radio Observatory.

While pure carbon cluster species and their Si-terminated analogs each form linear and cyclic structures, the cyclic forms of the latter have been easier to detect to date with cyclic silicon dicarbide and bicyclic silicon tricarbide both observed. The only other linear SiC_n species identified so far is simple diatomic SiC, though species as large as SiC₈ have been created and studied in the laboratory.