Mesostructure-controlled synthesis of chiral norbornane-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 2; no. 5; pp. 2010 - 2014
• Main Authors: Hao, Ting Ting, Shi, Jiao Yi, Zhuang, Ting Yan, Wang, Wei David, Li, Fu Chong, Wang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2012
• Subjects: composite polymers; mixing; porous media; surfactants
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c2ra00805j

In this contribution, chiral periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) materials with three-dimensional body-centered (Im3m) and face-centered (Fm3m) cubic mesostructures were synthesized for the first time. Under acidic conditions and with triblock copolymer F127 as the template, an Im3m-type chiral PMO was obtained with spherical morphology from the self-condensation of chiral norbornane-bridged precursor 1. In contrast, using triblock copolymer P123 as the template and with the aid of a co-surfactant, Gemini surfactant C₁₄₋₆₋₁₄, an Fm3m-type chiral PMO was obtained with an unprecedented pumpkin-like morphology from the self-condensation of chiral precursor 1. The synthetic conditions such as the stirring, standing, and aging time are crucial for the mesostructure and morphology of the synthesized chiral PMO materials.