Synthesis of large-pore ordered mesoporous silicas containing aminopropyl groups

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.