SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF PILLARED MONTMORILLONITE FORMED BY INTERCALATION OF TRANSITION-METAL MACROCYCLIC COMPLEXES

The transition metal macrocyclic complex cations M-(trans-14-diene)(2) (M=Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) were introduced into the interlayers of a sodi um montmorillonite clay. The resulting clays were calcined at various temperatures. All samples were thermally stable up to 300 degrees C wi th interlayer distances of 4.9 similar to 5.1 Angstrom and specific su rface areas of 57 similar to 86 m(2) g(-1). Both the Lewis and the Bro nsted acid sites were identified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements of adsorbed pyridine. The catalyst acidity was obtained f rom the temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of ammonia. The cataly tic activities in the dehydration of both 2-propanol and 2-butanol wer e correlated to the surface area and the strong acid amount of these i ntercalated clays.