Synthesis of a mineral-organic hybrid by treatment of phlogopite with phenylphosphonic acid

The reaction between natural phlogopite, having the idealized formula KMg3(AlSi3O10)-(OH)(2), and phenylphosphonic acid under soft conditions (24 h, 80 degreesC, reflux) originated a new layered material of the following idealized composition: [Mg(H2O)(2)](0.5)(AlSi3O6)(O-3-PC6H5)(2). 2H(2)O. The reaction mechanism involves the rupture of the trioctahedral layers of phlogopite and the formation of a new basal spacing of a hydrophobic type that is occupied by phenylphosphonic groups in a pseudomonomolecular arrangement. Simultaneously, the mobile K+ ions become partially substituted by [Mg(H2O)(2)](2+) groups, a hydrophilic space of the vermiculite type thus being obtained.