No abstract

A versatile surface-functionalization strategy applicable to mesoporous silica nanoparticles, which could potentially serve as drug delivery vehicles, is described that makes use of alkoxyamine tethers on the surface of the nanoparticles. A wide variety of carbonyl compounds can be attached readily to these tethers under the mild conditions of oxime ether formation, simply by incubating the chemically modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles with aldehydes or ketones in water.

Treatment of aromatic carbonyl compounds with Zn powder in 10% aq NaOH solution without using any organic solvents under the mild conditions afforded the corresponding 1,2-diols in good yields.