SYNTHESIS OF NEW HYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC ALUMINA GELS BY THE SOL-GELMETHOD

New hybrid organic-inorganic alumina gels have been prepared by reacti ng aluminum sec-butoxide and propane-1,2-diol, in CCl4 as solvent. Thi s reaction occurred without water addition and without the use of any catalyst, leading to the formation of transparent and monolithic gels. IR, Al-27 and C-13 NMR show that an interchange reaction between OBu( s) alkoxide groups and -O-CH-CH2-O- diol groups occurred, leading to t he hybrid gels. [GRAPHICS] Samples heat treated at different temperatu res under argon are weakly porous and have a small specific surface ar ea. XRD indicates the presence of pure a-alumina at 1450 degrees C.