Dry sol-gel condensation of p-X-C6H4SiH3 (X = H, CH3, CH3O, F, Cl) to organosilica p-X-C6H4SiO3 using nickelocene

The dry sol-gel reaction at toluene in ambient air atmosphere of p-X-C6H4SiH3 (X = H, CH3, CH3O, F, Cl) to p-C6H4SiO3 in high yield, catalyzed by nickelocene, is reported. The highest yield, molecular weight, polydispersity index, and TGA residue yield were obtained for p-Cl-C6H4SiH3. Some degree of unreacted Si-H bonds still remained in the gel because of steric reason. All the insoluble gels adopt an amorphous structure with a smooth surface. A plausible mechanism for the dry sol-gel reaction was suggested.