Synthesis of microporous inorganic-organic hybrids from layered octosilicate by silylation with 1,4-bis(trichloro- and dichloromethyl-silyl) benzenes

Crystalline microporous inorganic-organic nanohybrids were synthesized by pillaring layered octosilicate with 1,4-bis(trichlorosilyl)benzene or 1,4-bis(dichloromethylsilyl)benzene. The silylating agents were preferentially bridged between the layers of octosilicate, resulting in the formation of microporous hybrids with BET surface areas of ∼500 m²/g. The trichlorosilyl or dichloromethylsilyl groups were regularly grafted with confronting two Si-OH groups on the same octosilicate surface, and each reacted group possessed one unreacted site (chloro or methyl group). The micropores derived from 1,4-bis(trichlorosilyl)benzene showed a hydrophilic nature due to remaining Si-OH groups after hydrolysis of chlorosilyl groups, whereas those derived from 1,4-bis(dichloromethylsilyl)benzene showed a hydrophobic nature. The difference affected the phenol adsorption behavior from dilute aqueous solutions.