Organic-functionalized molecular sieves (OFMSs): I. Synthesis and characterization of OFMSs with polar functional groups

Organic-functionalized molecular sieves that contain polar functional groups are synthesized and characterized. Small, uniform-sized crystals with the BEA topology are obtained when tetraethylammonium fluoride is used as a structure-directing agent and added at the initiation of tetraethylorthosilicate/organosilane hydrolysis. An aminopropyl-functionalized material with the BEA topology is prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The results indicate that the aminopropyl groups are located within the intracrystalline void space and that they can be reacted with aldehydes to form occluded imines.