Silica-based organic–inorganic hybrid materials prepared from chiral precursors

New organic–inorganic hybrid silica-based materials containing chiral moieties have been prepared by sol–gel hydrolysis–condensation of tartaramide enantiomer precursors. The new chiral precursors were characterized by means of FTIR, 13 C, 29 Si and 1 H NMR, specific rotation and elemental analysis. Their hydrolysis led to the formation of hybrid materials containing an organic (chiral)–inorganic (silica) network. The obtained chiral xerogels were studied using 13 C and 29 Si CP MAS NMR spectra, which indicated the insertion of the chiral precursors into the inorganic network, as well as condensation degrees higher than 73%. XRD was also applied in order to analyse the xerogel's organization, indicating that the catalyst played a fundamental role in the kinetics of these hybrid materials.