Studies of the functionalisation of organic-inorganic hybrid materials by using the Heck reaction.

Cogelation of 4-styryltrimethoxysilane was performed using NH4F as catalyst. The functionalisation of the styryl group was then studied by using Heck's reaction with ethyl 4-bromobenzyl- or 4-bromoarylvinylbenzyl-phosphonates. The efficiency of the solid-phase reaction was highly dependent on the texture of the solids.