Here, we report the synthesis and structure of three high-silica molecular sieves, SSZ-35, SSZ-36, and SSZ-39, that are prepared from a library of 37 different cyclic and polycyclic quaternized amine molecules that are used as structure-directing agents (SDAs). The size and shape of the quaternized amine molecules are purposely designed in order to obtain novel zeolite structures, and the synthesis of these molecules is presented. The selectivity for the three molecular sieve phases is found to depend on both the SDA and the degree of heteroatom lattice substitution of Al3+ or B3+ in the silicate framework. Molecular modeling is utilized to probe the effects of the nonbonded SDA/zeolite-framework interaction energy on the selectivity for the observed molecular sieve phase. The Rietveld refinement of the powder X-ray data confirms the structure of the SSZ-39 zeolite to be isomorphous with the aluminophosphate molecular sieve, SAPO-18 (AEI). The structure of SSZ-36 is found to possess a range of fault probabilities between the two-dimensional channel system, end-member polymorphs, ITQ-3 and RUB-13 (International Zeolite Association Codes ITE and RTH, respectively). The SSZ-35 structure is reported to contain a one-dimensional pore system possessing stacked cages circumscribed by alternating rings of 10 and 18 tetrahedral atoms (10- and 18-membered rings).

The syntheses, structure solutions, and physicochemical and catalytic characterizations of the novel zeolites SSZ-53 and SSZ-59 are described. SSZ-53 and SSZ-59 were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions with the [1-(4-fluorophenyl)cyclopentylmethyl]trimethyl ammonium cation and 1-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclopentylmethyl]-1-methyl azocanium cation, respectively, as structure-directing agents. The framework topology of SSZ-53 was solved with the FOCUS method, and the structure of SSZ-59 was determined by model building. Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data confirms each proposed model. SSZ-53 and SSZ-59 each possess a one-dimensional channel system delimited by 14-membered rings. Results from transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, catalytic experiments (spaciousness index and constraint index tests), and argon and hydrocarbon adsorption experiments are consistent with the proposed structures.

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Can the location of the organic structure-directing agent (SDA) inside the channel system of a zeolite be determined experimentally in a systematic manner? In an attempt to answer this question, we investigated six borosilicate zeolites of known framework structure (SSZ-53, SSZ-55, SSZ-56, SSZ-58, SSZ-59, and SSZ-60), where the location of the SDA had only been simulated using molecular modeling techniques in previous studies. From synchrotron powder diffraction data, we were able to retrieve reliable experimental positions for the SDA by using a combination of simulated annealing (global optimization) and Rietveld refinement. In this way, problems arising from data quality and only partially compatible framework and SDA symmetries, which can lead to indecipherable electron density maps, can be overcome. Rietveld refinement using geometric restraints were then performed to optimize the positions and conformations of the SDAs. With these improved models, it was possible to go on to determine the location of the B atoms in the framework structure. That is, two pieces of information that are key to the understanding of zeolite synthesis-the location of the organic SDA in the channel system and of the positions adopted by heteroatoms in the silicate framework-can be extracted from experimental data using a systematic strategy. In most cases, the locations of the SDAs determined experimentally compare well with those simulated with molecular modeling, but there are also some clear differences, and the reason for these differences can be understood. The approach is generally applicable, and has also been used to locate organic guests, linkers, and ligands in metal-organic compounds.

The work here describes the kinetic analyses of aluminum replacement for boron in a suite of borosilicate molecular sieves. While the method has been described before as a means of converting synthesized borosilicates (with weak inherent acidity) to aluminosilicates (with much stronger acid strength) when there are large pores in the structure, here we carry out the transformation under less than optimal replacement concentrations, in order to better follow the kinetics. We examined several zeolite structures with boundary conditions of boron MEL where there are only 10-ring (or intermediate) pore structures and no Al is taken up, to multidimensional large pore zeolites, like boron beta, where Al substitution can occur everywhere. We also studied materials with both intermediate and large pores, SSZ-56, 57, 70, and 82. In the case of 57 up to 90% of the structure is made up of boron MEL. We observe that the pH drop is proportional to the Al reinsertion and is the same for all zeolites we studied. In one case, we compared a zeolite (SSZ-24) with boron and then no boron sites and found that Al does not go into defect sites. It was again confirmed (shown in earlier work) that Al will go into nest sites created by boron hydrolysis out of the substrate before Al treatment. Along those lines we also made two new observations: (1) the profile for Al uptake, as followed by pH drop, is the same kinetically, whether the boron is there or not; and(2) NMR showed that the boron is leaving the structure faster than Al can go back in (SSZ-33 study), even when we treat a material with boron in the lattice.

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N,N-Dialkyl aromatic amines react rapidly with nitrous acid to competitively produce a nitrosamine and a nitro compound. The mechanism of nitro compound formation involves a reaction of an amine radical cation with NO2, while the nitrosamine is produced by two competing pathways, one of which involves N-α-CH deprotonation of a radical cation with subsequent oxidative generation of an imminium ion, and the other of which occurs through NOH elimination of a nitrosammonium ion (R3N−NO+). All three pathways are linked through the reversible homolysis of R3N−NO+ to NO and a radical cation.