The photolysis of 1-pentamethyldisilanyl-, 1-(1ʹ-phenyltetramethyldisilanyl)-, and 1-(2ʹ-phenyltetramethyldisilanyl)naphthalene and 2-pentamethyldisilanyl-and 2-(2ʹ-phenyltetramethyldisilanyl)naphthalene has been investigated. Irradiation of 1-disilanylnaphthalenes in the presence or absence of a trapping agent afforded isomers, 1-hydrosilyl-2-silylnaphthalenes, via photochemical formation of the silicon-carbon double-bonded intermediate, followed by an intramolecular 1, 3-hydrogen shift. From photolysis of 2-disilanylnaphthalenes in the presence of a trapping agent, however, addition products, which could be formed from the reaction of the unsaturated silicon species with the trapping agent, were obtained. The CNDO/2 calculations have been carried out on 1-perhydrodisilanyl-and 2-perhydrodisilanylnaphthalene and also on the silicon-carbon double-bonded intermediates produced from the disilane derivatives. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.