Solid acid-base control of inorganic/organic hybrids by inorganic components for molecule-selectivity

Solid acid-base properties of methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids were controlled by incorporation of inorganic components other than Si into methylsiloxane networks. The effect of different inorganic components on the solid acid-base properties was estimated by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The deprotonation tends to occur in the order Si < Al < Nb inorganic components, suggesting that the acidity increases in the same order. Methylsiloxane-based hybrids with solid acid-base properties were also synthesized by incorporating inorganic components derived from metal alkoxides. Hammett indicators revealed that the solid acidity increased in the order Si < Al < Nb inorganic components, which was consistent with the results of first-principles calculations. Preliminary experiments revealed that the methylsiloxane-based hybrids also provided a solid basic nature by containing Ca and Y inorganic components derived from metal alkoxides. The acidic hybrids were found to have Bronsted acid sites from the FT-IR experiments of adsorbed pyridine on the hybrids.