Synthesis and Characterization of Tetrakis-Silylated C₆₀ Isomers

A photochemical reaction of C₆₀ with disilane in a 2:3 ratio affords the isomer mixture of the tetrakis-adduct of C₆₀(^tBuPh₂Si)₄ as the major product. The use of a three-stage HPLC separation system isolated three of their isomers. Their structural assignments were based on FAB mass, UV−vis, NMR, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. The CV analysis showed that the terakis-adduct has lower oxidation and higher reduction potentials than the bis-adduct C₆₀(^tBuPh₂Si)₂ and the parent C₆₀.