Functional polymers supported on porous silica: I. Grafting active precursors onto porous silica

A set of porous silica has been grafted with trialkoxysilane coupling agents carrying either a γ-propyl methacryloyl group, a γ-propyl thiol or a γ-propyl amine group. The grafts have been characterized by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 29Si and 13C cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance; the grafting yields were estimated from elemental analysis. The grafted amine was further reacted with azobiscyanovaleric acid. The grafted materials are to be used as co-monomer, transfer agent or initiator for a further grafting of a functional polymer via a radical polymerization.