Al-27 MAS n.m.r. spectroscopy, C-13 MAS n.m.r. spectroscopy, in situ i
nfrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were employed to
study acetylacetone adsorbed on HZSM-5 samples of varying acid-site co
ncentration and extralattice aluminum content. Three types of adsorbed
acetylacetone were observed: (1) physisorbed acetylacetone, (2) acety
lacetone interacting strongly via the carbonyl groups with acid sites
within the zeolite structure, and (3) acetylacetone weakly adsorbed on
extralattice aluminum and giving rise to a sharp octahedral aluminum
signal observed in the Al-27 MAS n.m.r. spectra. The extralattice alum
inum acetylacetone species decomposes slowly under ambient laboratory
conditions. The implications of these observations to the use of acety
lacetone as a means of visualizing ''n.m.r. invisible'' aluminum are d
iscussed.