Chemical
vapor deposition of trimethylaluminum (TMA) was explored as an approach
for the preparation of model faujasite-type catalysts containing extraframework
aluminum. The decomposition of the grafted organoaluminum species
was investigated in hydrogen and oxygen atmosphere. The process of
grafting Al-containing species and the associated changes of the zeolite
hydroxyl groups were followed by in situ FTIR spectroscopy. The state
of intrazeolite Al atoms, the changes in zeolite structure and acidity
caused by the CVD procedure as well as by subsequent treatment were
analyzed in detail by 1H, 29Si, and 27Al MAS NMR, COads IR, H/D exchange of acidic hydroxyl
groups with perdeuterobenzene, and propane cracking. Reaction of an
extraframework aluminum-free high-silica faujasite zeolite with TMA
leads to nearly complete substitution of the bridging hydroxyl groups
with Al species. The reaction, however, does not produce uniform homogeneously
distributed species. Because of the high reactivity of TMA, the zeolite
lattice is partially decomposed resulting in its partial dealumination
and formation of stable Si-CH3 moieties. The exact conditions
of post-CVD treatment influence strongly the chemical and catalytic
properties of the zeolites. The strongest increase of the propane
conversion rate was observed when grafted TMA species were decomposed
in H2 at high temperature. Such zeolite displays much higher
activity per Brønsted acid site in propane cracking than a commercial
ultrastabilized Y zeolite. It is proposed that the activity enhancement
is related to strong polarization of a fraction of the zeolite Brønsted
acid sites by Lewis acid sites formed by the hydrogenolysis of grafted
TMA complexes.