Photochemical bis-silylation of C60: synthesis of a novel C60 main chain polysilane

The photoreaction of polysilanes and cyclic oligosilanes with C60 has been investigated. Photoirradiation of a solution of C60 and polysilanes in benzene in a degassed quartz tube at 20°C with a low-pressure mercury-arc lamp has afforded the C60–polysilane adduct in moderate yield, in which C60 is incorporated into the polysilane chain. A unique electronic property of the C60 main chain polysilane has also been elucidated.