Periodic mesoporous organometallic silicas with unary or binary organometals inside the channel walls as active and reusable catalysts in aqueous organic reactions.

A new type of heterogenized organometallic catalysts, periodic mesoporous organometallic silicas with organometals and organic groups embedded in silica walls have been developed using surfactant-directed co-condensation. These catalysts exhibit high efficiencies and strong durability in water-medium organic reactions. Moreover, a bifunctional catalyst containing both Pd(II) and Ru(II) organometals inside pore walls can catalyze the water-medium "one-pot" cascade reaction effectively. These catalysts can be conveniently recycled and reused without significant loss of catalytic activities.