A periodic mesoporous organosilica containing electron acceptor viologen units

A periodic structured organosilica solid of the MCM-41 type containing 4,4'-bipyridinium presumably inserted on the walls that is stable after surfactant removal has been prepared; the ability of bipyridinium units to act as electron acceptor termini has been demonstrated by observation of the radical cation in the photochemical and thermal activation of the as-synthesized material.