Electrochemistry of Mesoporous Organosilica of MCM-41 Type Containing 4,4′-Bipyridinium Units: Voltammetric Response and Electrocatalytic Effect on 1,4-Dihydrobenzoquinone Oxidation

The electrochemistry of a novel organic−inorganic material in which 4,4‘-bipyridinium units (BP) are covalently attached to the walls of a periodic mesoporous organisilica (PMO) of the MCM-41 type is described. The pristine material (BP@PMO), having its internal space completely filled by the cetyltrimethylammonium structure-directing agent, is almost electrochemically silent. In contrast, the extracted material obtained after removal of the structure-directing agent (BP@PMO-ex) exhibits two reduction peaks at −0.36 and −0.75 V vs AgCl/Ag in contact with aqueous electrolytes. BP@PMO-ex shows a remarkable electrocatalytic effect on the oxidation of 1,4-dihydrobenzoquinone (H2Q) that is studi…