Patent ID: 7166265

Claim:
A process for producing a mesostructured organofunctional silica composition with framework silicon centers with an anhydrous formula (SiO 2 ) 1-x (SiLO 1.5 ) x , wherein L is one or more organo groups linked to the framework silicon centers through a carbon-silicon bond and x is a fraction of the framework silicon centers that are organofunctional, the process comprising the steps of combining a basic aqueous solution of silicate anions at a pH of about 11 or above with an acidified solution of at least one hydrolyzable organosilane reagent and a surfactant to form a reaction mixture with a pH between about 1.0 and about 10, aging the reaction mixture at a temperature between 0° and 150° C. at a surfactant to silicon ratio effective to produce a mesostructured organofunctional silica composition intercalated by the surfactant and removing the surfactant from the intercalated product by solvent extraction.