Preparation and chemical activity of methoxy groups at the surface of γ-Al2O3

Nowadays surface reactions accompanying the molecular layering synthesis (ML−ALD) are used to prepare various solid compounds of the desired composition and structure [1, 2]. One of the necessary conditions of such synthesis is the presence of the suitable functional groups on the matrix surface [3]. In the case of γ-Al2O3, as well as in the cases of many other inorganic matrices, hydroxy groups act as the reactive sites. As the aluminum-bound hydroxy group (=Al–OH) is thermally unstable and acts as a weak nucleophile [4], the high conversion of the OH groups is hardly possible under mild conditions of electrophilic substitution with metal halides, silanes, and other agents.