Abstract Primary amine groups were attached to a silica surface by using α, ω-diamines derivatives and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane activation. The same activation was used to graft polyethylenimine, which also contains secondary and tertiary amine groups. These silica aminated structures were tested as heterogeneous catalysts in nitroaldol condensation with nitromethane, the derivative with the polyethylenimine moiety being the ...