A new silylating agent N-((3-(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylthio)propanamido)methyl)acrylamide synthesized from the reaction of N,N-methylenebisacrylamide and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane yielded layered inorganic-organic talc-like magnesium phyllosilicate through the sol-gel process. Elemental analysis data based on sulfur demonstrated incorporation of 2.70 mmol g(-1) of organic moiety inside the lamellar cavities and the X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the talc-like structure with a basal distance of 2.11 nm. Infrared spectroscopy, C-13 and Si-29 NMR in the solid state are in agreement with the presence of organic chains covalently bonded to the inorganic lamellar framework, as also supported by the presence of T-n silicon species. Nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur basic centers sorb divalent lead, copper and cobalt cations with maximum capacity of 5.30, 3.82 and 1.60 mmol g(-1). The thermodynamic data for cation/basic center interactions at the solid/liquid interface were determined through calorimetric titration with exothermic enthalpy, negative Gibbs energy and positive entropy, as expected for spontaneous and favorable reaction conditions. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.