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The three-dimensional microporosity of zeolite frameworks have allowed their widespread use in industry as heterogeneous catalysts, absorbents, and ion-exchangers. While the phosphate analogues of zeolites having up to 24 tetrahedral atoms in the pore openings are known, silicate-based zeolites have, until now, been limited to 14-membered ring pore openings. We now disclose the structure and characterization of the synthetic zeolite ECR-34, which can be prepared from a mixed alkali metal reaction gel containing tetraethylammonium (TEA) cations. Its structure has been determined from powder diffraction data and shows ECR-34 to be hexagonal with the dimensions a, b = 21.030(1) A, c = 8.530(1) A, containing one-dimensional, 18-ring pores with 10 A diameter free openings. ECR-34 is stable to 800 degrees C and is able to absorb and ion-exchange large organic molecules. The existence of ECR-34 suggests the potential of preparing other thermally stable silicate molecular sieves with extra-large pores.

By constraining tethered asymmetric organometallic catalysts within the nanopores of silica supports so as to increase the interaction between the pore wall and the active center (and hence to restrict access of the reactant to the catalyst), a significant improvement in enantioselectivity is achieved. A schematic illustration of a cationic chiral, organometallic catalyst, [Rh(I)(COD)PMP] {(S)-(+)-1-(2-pyrrolidinylmethyl)-pyrrolidine and cyclooctadiene}, which is noncovalently anchored via a N-H...F hydrogen bond with the triflate ion, CF3SO3-, to the curved inner surface of a 38 A diameter pore of a silica support for the asymmetric hydrogenation of the C=O bond in methyl benzoylformate to the corresponding methyl mandelate is shown. Rh (purple); N (blue); H (white); F (green); C (gray); S (yellow); O (red).