High Surface Area Silicon Imidonitrides: A New Class of Microporous Solid Base

Shape- or size-selective micro- and mesoporous solids find applications as catalysts, catalyst supports, and membrane materials. Here the synthesis of a high surface area microporous base is reported. This material, prepared by ammonolysis of oligomeric methylsilazanes, is a nitride analogue of amorphous silica-based mixed metal oxides. The sharply defined microporosity of silicon imidonitride materials and their observed activity in the base-catalyzed Knoevenagel reaction, together with their large number of N–H groups, raises the possibility that these materials will function as size-selective solid base catalysts.