Ordered silylation of layered silicate RUB-51 with half-sodalite cages

Layered silicate RUB-51 with half-sodalite cages was silylated with dichlorodimethylsilane and trichloromethylsilane. RUB-51, which possesses two confronting SiO^-/SiOH groups on the interlayer surface, was reacted with bi/tri-functional silylating agents to induce bidentate silylation. RUB-51 silylated with dichlorodimethylsilane was delaminated through ultrasonication in cyclohexane. Layered octosilicate, which also possesses two confronting SiO^-/ SiOH groups to form a bidentate state, was reacted with the same silylating reagents. The comparison of these silylated products derived from two different layered silicates reveals that the structures of silylated interlayer surfaces are varied by the arrangement of the two SiO ^-/SiOH groups. Silylated RUB-51 possesses zigzag grooves on the layer surfaces which will be useful for silicate-based nanomaterials design.