Patent ID: 8247392

Claim:
A silica gel composition comprising a compound of formula G(Y) α , wherein: G is an organometallic cation of formula (II′), R 1 , R 2 , R 2 , and R 4 are identical or different radicals each independently selected from the group consisting of: i) hydrogen atoms, ii) linear or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, iii) unsubstituted phenyl radicals, and iv) substituted phenyl radicals substituted by one or more identical or different radical each independently selected from the group consisting of vinyl, hydroxyl, nitro, amino, cyano, carboxyl, bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo, benzyloxy, and hydroxymethyl radicals, linear or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkyl radicals unsubstituted or substituted by one or more bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo group, and linear or branched alkyloxy radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkyloxy radicals unsubstituted or substituted by one or more bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo group, R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 , are identical or different radicals each independently selected from the group consisting of: i) hydrogen atoms, and ii) linear or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R a , R b , and R c are identical or different radicals each independently selected from the group consisting of: i) hydrogen atoms, ii) unsubstituted phenyl radicals, and iii) substituted phenyl radicals substituted by one or more identical or different radical each independently selected from the group consisting of vinyl, hydroxyl, nitro, amino, cyano, carboxyl, bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo, benzyloxy, and hydroxymethyl radicals, linear or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkyl radical being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo groups, and linear or branched alkyloxy radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkyloxy radical being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo group, and wherein, at least one of R a , R b , and R c is an unsubstituted phenyl radical or a substituted phenyl radical; M is at least one metal cation selected from the group consisting of cobalt, rhodium, iridium, manganese, iron, ruthenium, and osmium; Y is an organic or inorganic anion; and α is an integer or decimal number such that the compound of formula G(Y) α is electrically neutral, wherein the compound of formula G(Y) α is covalently bonded to a silica gel via spacer arms, and said spacer arms are divalent radicals bonded to a 2-, 3-, or 4-position of said at least one R a , R b , or R c phenyl radical and to a free silanol functional group (Si—O) of said silica gel.