Controlling silica surfaces using responsive coupling agents

Abstract. The surface chemistry of silica was modified using coupling agents capable of participating in oxidation or in the Diels–Alder (and retro Diels–Alder) reactions. The synthesis of the latter coupling agents, using trialkoxysilane groups linked to a cyclopentadiene structure, was achieved by the condensation of sodium cyclopentadienolide with 1-chlorodimethylsilyl-3-triethoxysilylpropane to give …