Synthesis of large-pore ordered mesoporous silicas containing aminopropyl groups

Abstract

Ordered mesoporous silicas with large-pore diameters incorporating aminopropyl groups in variable quantity have been synthesized via the co-condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-tert-butyloxycarbonylaminopropyltriethoxysilane templated with nonionic surfactant P123 under acidic conditions. The deprotection of amino groups was then quantitatively achieved either by thermal treatment or acid hydrolysis followed by Et₃N treatment, both routes leading to exactly the same materials. We showed that the free amino centers are fully accessible, by using the condensation of the amine function with benzaldehyde.