Microporous Carbon and Mesoporous Silica by Use of Twin Polymerization: An Integrated Experimental and Theoretical Approach to Precursor Reactivity

Abstract

AbstractSpirocyclic silicon alkoxides were synthesized by reaction of Si(OMe)4 with derivatives of salicylic alcohol and studied by in situ differential scanning calorimetry with regard to twin polymerization (TP). Both, thermally induced and proton‐assisted TP gave nanostructured hybrid materials composed of a phenolic resin and silica. Carbonization and subsequent treatment with HF(aq) resulted in microporous carbon, whereas oxidation in air provided mesoporous silica. DFT calculations were performed to obtain a more detailed insight into the first reaction steps of proton‐assisted TP and to support the hypothesis of a reactivity scale based on steric and electronic features of the silicon‐containing precursors (twin monomers). The calculated reaction barriers for the initial reaction steps of proton‐assisted TP are qualitatively in accordance with the Hammett constants of the substituents at the salicylate moiety. This result offers a simple method to predict the reactivity for twin monomers.