Synthesis and characterization of cyclic silicon compounds of fullerenes

Organosilicon compounds are perhaps the most important inter-element compounds, as exemplified by disilanes and polysilanes. Similarly, ever since fullerene C-60 became available in preparatively useful quantities, this new allotropic form of carbon has attracted much attention, particularly its chemical functionalization. The present review describes how these two disparate classes of compound can be induced to react together and combine to form novel derivatives endowed with unusual properties. In particular, we describe how silylenes derived from various disilane derivatives under thermal and photochemical conditions can react with fullerenes and endohedral metallofullerenes. Mono- bis- and even multi-silylation of the fullerene framework takes place leading to a new class of fullerene-based organic compounds which at the same time opens a promising new field in materials science.