Sulfur-containing silanes were grafted onto magadiite (MGD) interlayer surfaces.
Silane grafting (Si69, MPTES) displaced CTA+ cations from the interlayer surfaces.
Reaction of squalene with silanized MGD probed accessibility of interlayer sulfur.
High Si69 graft density decreases MGD layer spacing and precludes entry of squalene.
Low Si69 graft density maintains layer spacing, permits interlayer squalene grafting.