Vibrational spectra of a ferrocenyl phosphine derivative chemisorbed on 3-aminopropylsilyl modified silica gel

•IR absorbance, DRIFT and Raman spectra of modified silica gel were investigated.•A ferrocenyl phosphine derivative was attached on APS-modified silica gel.•Formed SiOSi bonds due to chemisorption were detected using Raman spectroscopy.

Samples of silica gel dried at different temperatures, silica gel modified with 3-aminopropylsilyl (APS) and silica gel modified with APS and further with a ferrocenyl phosphine derivative were investigated by DRIFT, transmission FTIR and MicroRaman spectroscopy. The reaction between 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) and silica gel was mainly identified by the diminishing or vanishing intensity of the stretching band of the free OH groups in the silica gel. Further chemical reaction of the APS groups with a ferrocenyl phosphine derivative (suitable as ligand in homogeneous catalysis) was identified in the IR spectra by the appearance of the CN stretching band of the formed Schiff base, and diminishing intensity of the δ(NH2) modes. According to the IR spectra the reaction of the ferrocenyl phosphine derivative with the APS-modified silica gel is almost quantitative. From the recorded IR and Raman spectra, conclusions concerning the substitution of APTMS methoxy groups during the chemisorption on silica gel were derived. Through deconvolution of the complex Raman band in the siloxy stretching region of the APS-modified silica gel, the newly formed siloxy bond was identified.