Lewis Acidic Aluminosilicates: Synthesis, 27Al MQ/MAS NMR, and DFT-calculated 27Al NMR parameters

Porous aluminosilicates are functional materials of paramount importance as Lewis acid catalysts in the synthetic industry, yet the participating aluminum species remain poorly studied. Herein, a series of model aluminosilicate networks containing [L–AlO3] (L = THF, Et3N, pyridine, triethylphosphine oxide (TEPO)) and [AlO4]– centers were prepared through non-hydrolytic sol-gel condensation reactions of the spherosilicate building block (Me3Sn)8Si8O20 with L–AlX3 (X = Cl, Me, Et) and [Me4N] [AlCl4] compounds in THF or toluene. The substoichiometric dosage of the Al precursors ensured complete condensation and uniform incorporation, with the bulky spherosilicate forcing a separation between neighboring aluminum centers. The materials were characterized by 1H, 13C, 27Al, 29Si, and 31P MAS NMR and FTIR spectroscopies, ICP-OES, gravimetry, and N2 adsorption porosimetry. The resulting aluminum centers were resolved by 27Al TQ/MAS NMR techniques and assigned based on their spectroscopic parameters obtained by peak fitting (δiso, CQ, η) and their correspondence to the values calculated on model structures by DFT methods. A clear correlation between the decrease in the symmetry of the Al centers and the increase of the observed CQ was established with values spanning from 4.4 MHz for distorted [AlO4]– to 15.1 MHz for [THF–AlO3]. Products containing exclusively [TEPO–AlO3] or [AlO4]– centers could be obtained (single-site materials). For L = THF, Et3N, and pyridine, [AlO4]– centers were formed together with the expected [L–AlO3] species, and a viable mechanism for the unexpected emergence of [AlO4]– was proposed.