The Inclusion of Organometallic Derivatives of Cyclotriphosphazenes Inside SiO2 Matrix and Their Conversion to Nanostructured Metal-Oxides and Phosphates

Organometallic derivatives of the cyclotriphosphazene N₃P₃[OC₆H₄CH₂CN·TiClCp₂]₆ (1), N₃P₃(O₆H₅)₅[OC₆H₄N·W(CO)₅] (2), N₃P₃[OC₆H₄CH₂CN·Mo(CO)₅]₆ (3), [N₃P₃(O₆H₅)₅(OC₅H₄N·CpRu(PPh₃)₂)][PF₆] (4), [N₃P₃(O₂C₁₂H₈)₂OC₅H₄N·Ag(PPh₃)][OSO₂CF₃] (5), N₃P₃[OC₆H₅]₅ [OC₅H₄N·Cu][PF₆] (6) and N₃P₃[OC₆H₄CH₂CN·CuCl]₆[PF₆]₆ (7),were incorporated inside SiO₂ through the sol–gel method. The metal–organic nanocomposites of the general formula N₃P₃[OC₆H₄CH₂CN·TiClCp₂]₆·nSiO₂ (G ₁ ), N₃P₃[OC₆H₄N·W(CO)₅]·nSiO₂ (G ₂ ), N₃P₃[OC₆H₄CH₂CN·Mo(CO)₅]₆·nSiO₂ (G ₃ ), N₃P₃(O₆H₅)₅OC₅H₄N·CpRu(PPh₃)₂][PF₆]·nSiO₂ (G ₄ ), [N₃P₃(O₂C₁₂H₈)₂OC₅H₄N·Ag(PPh₃)][OSO₂CF₃]·nSiO₂ (G ₅ ), N₃P₃[OC₆H₅]₅[OC₅H₄N·Cu][PF₆]·(SiO₂) _n (G ₆ ), and N₃P₃[OC₆H₄CH₂CN·CuCl]₆[PF₆]₆·(SiO₂) _n (G ₇ ), were characterized by IR spectroscopy; ¹²C, ³¹ P and ²⁹Si MAS NMR measurements as well as UV–Visible diffuse reflectance spectra, indicating the presence of the respective organometallic derivatives of the cyclotriphosphazene incorporated into SiO₂. Pyrolysis of these nanocomposites under air at 800 °C gives rise to nanostructured metal-oxides and metal phosphates incorporated into amorphous SiO₂, with the presence in some cases of complexes phase mixtures. From some precursors, we obtained metal-oxides/phosphates nanoparticles separated from the SiO₂ nanoparticles instead the oxides/phosphates nanoparticles inside the SiO₂ matrix. Additionally and for comparison purposes, we used the compound N₃P₃[NH(CH₂)₃Si(OEt)₃]₆ as gelator. Nanocomposites (G′ ₁ ), (G′ ₂ ) and (G′ ₃ ) exhibited mainly morphological differences while in some cases composition differences when using TEOS as gelator. Some simple metal-containing compounds as (O₃SCF₃)Ag(PPh₃)(HOC₅H₄N), [CuCl₂·NC₅H₄OH] and [CuCl₂·NCCH₂C₆H₄OH]—which are useful models of the most complexes (G ₅ ), (G ₆ ) and (G ₇ ) were also prepared and incorporated in amorphous silica. Their pyrolytic products were compared with those of more complex cyclotriphosphazene analogous. Interestingly, the pyrolysis of the nanocomposite [(O₃SCF₃)Ag(PPh₃)(HOC₅H₄N)][SiO₂] _n affords the firstly-reported materials containing Ag₂O along with SiO₂ nanoparticles.