A Non-Hydrolytic Sol–Gel Route to Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Polymers: Linearly Expanded Silica and Silsesquioxanes

Condensation reactions of chlorosilanes (SiCl4 and CH3SiCl3) and bis(trimethylsilyl)ethers of rigid, quasi-linear diols (CH3)3SiO–AR–OSi(CH3)3 (AR = 4,4′-biphenylene (1) and 2,6-naphthylene (2)), with release of (CH3)3SiCl as a volatile byproduct, afforded novel hybrid materials that feature Si–O–C bridges. The precursors 1 and 2 were characterized using FTIR and multinuclear (1H, 13C, 29Si) NMR spectroscopy as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis in case of 2. Pyridine-catalyzed and non-catalyzed transformations were performed in THF at room temperature and at 60 °C. In most cases, soluble oligomers were obtained. The progress of these transsilylations was monitored in solution with 29Si NMR spectroscopy. Pyridine-catalyzed reactions with CH3SiCl3 proceeded until complete substitution of all chlorine atoms; however, no gelation or precipitation was found. In case of pyridine-catalyzed reactions of 1 and 2 with SiCl4, a Sol–Gel transition was observed. Ageing and syneresis yielded xerogels 1A and 2A, which exhibited large linear shrinkage of 57–59% and consequently low BET surface area of 10 m2⋅g−1. The xerogels were analyzed using powder-XRD, solid state 29Si NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, SEM/EDX, elemental analysis, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The SiCl4-derived amorphous xerogels consist of hydrolytically sensitive three-dimensional networks of SiO4-units linked by the arylene groups. The non-hydrolytic approach to hybrid materials may be applied to other silylated precursors, if the reactivity of the corresponding chlorine compound is sufficient.

A new aspect of the “pseudo water” concept of bis(trimethylsilyl)carbodiimide – “pseudohydrates” of aluminum

Bis(trimethylsilyl)carbodiimide (BTSC), so-called “pseudo water” because of some analogies such as similar (group)electronegativities of Me3Si– vs. H– and –N=C=N– vs. –O–, may form two different kinds of “pseudo hydrates” of metals (M), i.e. M–N(SiMe3)=C=N(SiMe3) and M–N≡C–N(SiMe3)2, derived from its carbodiimide and cyanamide isomeric forms, respectively. With anhydrous AlCl3 in Me3SiCl solution BTSC was shown to be capable of forming both kinds of solvates, i.e. Cl3Al–N(SiMe3)–C≡N(SiMe3) (1) and ((Cl3Al)(Me3Si)NCN)3–Al–(N≡C–N(SiMe3)2)3 (2). Both compounds were isolated as crystalline solids, which undergo condensation reactions upon storage. By single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis the constitution of 1 was confirmed unambiguously, and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP/6-311++g(d,p)) confirmed that compound 1 is 6 kcal mol−1 more stable than its hypothetical N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyanamide isomer Cl3Al–N≡C–N(SiMe3)2. Compound 1 represents the first crystallographically confirmed disilylcarbodiimide complex of a metal salt. The molecules of compound 2 are heavily disordered in the solid state (positional disorder of N≡C–N(SiMe3)2 vs. N≡C–N(SiMe3)(AlCl3) and positional disorder of SiMe3 vs. AlCl3 groups in the latter). Therefore, the identity of 2 was additionally confirmed by 13C, 15N, 27Al and 29Si CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy.

Synthesis of transparent aminosilane-derived silica based networks for entrapment of sensitive materials

A novel sol-gel synthesis route is reported which results in the formation of optically transparent silica based hydro- and xerogels from an aminosilane precursor in aqueous solutions. These materials can be used for entrapment of microalgae and light-harvesting complex (LHC) samples.

s-Triazine and tri-s-triazine based organic–inorganic hybrid gels prepared from chlorosilanes by exchange reactions

Hybrid polymers [(DeltaO3)4Si3]n and [(DeltaO3)SiMe]n (where Delta = C6N7 or C3N3) have been prepared by a novel sol-gel process based on exchange reactions of MeSiCl3 or SiCl4 with C6N7(OSiMe3)3 and C3N3(OSiMe3)3.

Synthesis of Novel Amorphous Boron Carbonitride Ceramics from the Borazine Derivative Copolymer via Hydroboration

A preceramic polymer for boron carbonitride was synthesized for the first time by the hydroboration of borazine derivatives, B-triethynyl, N-trimethyl borazine and borazine, without a catalyst. A homogeneous, amorphous boron carbonitride ceramic was prepared by the thermolysis of a hydroborated copolymer in an argon atmosphere.