Synthesis and catalytic activity of a chiral periodic mesoporous organosilica (ChiMO)

A chiral vanadyl salen complex having two peripheral trimethoxysilyl groups has been used to obtain a chiral periodic mesoporous organosilica having MCM-41 periodicity and the two Si-CH2 groups anchored on the framework; this solid induces 30% enantioselectivity in the cyanosilylation of benzaldehyde.