Patent ID: 7265236

Claim:
A polypodal silane compound for use as a bonded phase and having hydrophilicity, comprising at least two podal branches bonded via an ether linkage or alkoxy group to a hydrophilic group, wherein each podal branch has a silicon atom, the silicon atoms are bonded to each podal branch through a Si—C bond and each of the podal branches is capable of bonding to a siliceous substrate through at least one hydrolyzable functional group capable of being displaced by a Si—O bond, and wherein the compound has a structure according to Formula (I): wherein: R 1 is selected from hydrogen, and substituted and unsubstituted, branched and straight chain, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkylene ether, alkenyl ether, alkynyl ether or aryl ether groups, and wherein, in R 1 , oxygen atoms are not bonded together so as to form peroxy functionality; R 2 is selected from substituted and unsubstituted, branched and straight chain alkyl and alkylene ether groups; R 3 is selected from substituted and unsubstituted, branched and straight chain alkyl groups, wherein each R 3 group in Formula (I) may be the same or different; R 4 is selected from substituted and unsubstituted, branched and straight chain alkyl, alkylene, alkylene ether and alkenyl ether groups, and an ether linkage; X is a hydrolyzable group capable of bonding to a siliceous substrate and of being displaced by a silicon-oxygen bond or a non-hydrolyzable organic functional group, wherein at least one of the X groups on each Si atom is hydrolyzable; n is 0 or an integer which is no greater than 3; y is 0 or an integer which is no greater than 3; and wherein 2≦n+y≦3; and n and y are never both zero.