Trimethylsilylation of ordered and disordered titanosilicates: improvements in epoxidation with aqueous H2O2 from micro- to meso-pores and beyond†

A novel method for trimethylsylilation of micro- and meso-porous titanosilcates using BSTFA [N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide] renders Ti-MCM-41 and SiO2/TiO2 aerogels active for olefin epoxidation with aqueous H2O2, and even improves the activity of TS-1.