Cation-directed syntheses of novel zeolite-like metalloaluminophosphates STA-6 and STA-7 in the presence of azamacrocycle templates

Hydrothermal syntheses of divalent metal cation-containing aluminophosphate s, or MAPOs (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Co or Zn), have been performed using the azama crocycle 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane as a struct ure directing agent. Whereas STA-6 (St. Andrews-6), a small pore zeotype wi th a one-dimensional channel system, is prepared when magnesium, manganese or iron is included in the synthesis gel, a new solid, STA-7, is prepared i n the presence of cobalt or zinc. The structure of STA-7 has been solved an d found to possess a tetrahedrally connected framework with a fully three-d imensional interconnected small pore channel system. The organic template m olecules included during synthesis can completely be removed without loss o f framework integrity from the cobalt form. Syntheses using the hexaazamacr ocycle 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexamethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane have also been successful in preparing STA-7 in the presence of divalent metal cations. Both STA-6 and STA-7 structure types can be considered to be built up of cages and chemical analysis and computer simulation suggest strongly that the macrocycles act to template these cages.