Hybrid networks derived from isosorbide by means of thiol-ene photoaddition and sol-gel chemistry

- New nano/microstructured bridged silsesquioxane materials based on substainable isosorbide moieties have been synthesized.
- The self-organization of these networks at the nanometric scale was demonstrated.
- The potential optical properties of the hybrid materials have been evidenced by highlighting birefringence areas.

New bridged silsesquioxanes derived from isosorbide were synthesized, according to the sol-gel process, by acidic or basic hydrolysis and condensation of a bis-trimethoxysilyl precursor. The latter was prepared by thiol-ene photoaddition of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-1-propane thiol on diallyl isosorbide ether synthesized by a phase-transfer-catalyzed reaction of allyl bromide with isosorbide. The structure of those hybrid networks prepared according to a sol-gel process was investigated by 29Si solid-state NMR and X-ray diffraction experiments. Acid hydrolysis leads to the formation of randomly branched structures while basic catalysis promotes the creation of clusters. The anisotropic character of the hybrid networks was evidenced by cross polarized optical light observations (birefringence), demonstrating an organization at the micrometric-scale. These hybrid networks derived from isosorbide showed a thermal stability up to 360 °C.