Intersecting channel zeolites synthesis

In the as-synthesized MFI-crystals the tetrapropylammonium (TPA) ions are occupying the intersections between the straight (parallel) and the sinusoidal channels of the zeolite, thus providing an efficient pore filling. The detailed structure of as-synthesized MFI-TPA has been elucidated by X-ray single crystal analysis (ref. 3). Also the combination tetrabutyl-Ztetraethylammonium can be applied as template in MFI-synthesis. A 1 1 build-in is found then (Fig. 1). When only tetrabutylammonium is available as template, the MEL (ZSM-11) lattice is formed with another distance between the channel intersections. 

One of the most in ortant properties of zeolites is their ability to cany out shqie selective reactions [5]. These can be cl sified as, firstfy, product shape selective reactions in which the only products formed are those which can diffiise out of e pores of die zeolite, second, reactant shape selective reactions which occur when some of the molecules in a reactant mbcture are too large to diffiise through the catalyst pores, and, thirdfy, restricted transition-state selective reactions in which the only reactions which occur are those in which qiace exists in the pores or cavities to allow the formation of the activated transition state con lex. In some cases where the zeolite is three dimensional the gze of the channel intersections will also be a determining ictor. This unique catalytic property is related to the pore size of the zeolite and has led to the synthesis of zeohtes with a very w e range of pore gzes. 

The presence of GeCh in the synthesis mixture can sometimes lead to the synthesis of a very special zeolite. ITQ-13 [ 44 synthesized in the presence of doubly charged hexamethonium cations exhibits a three-dimensional channel system with intersecting 10- and 9-membcrcd rings. This is for the first time that a zeolite possesses both 10- and 9-mcmbcrcd rings. 

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