A zeolite with interconnected 8-, 10- and 12-ring pores and its unique catalytic selectivity

One of the major goals in catalysis is to improve the capabilities of microporous materials. This can be accomplished by synthesizing new zeolites; with controlled pore architectures. In particular, zeolites containing channels of different sizes in the same structure are desirable. Here, we report a zeolite containing fully interconnected 8-, 10- and 12-membered-ring pores, synthesized by combining the structure-directing effect of the organic 1,5-bis-(methylpyrrolidinium)-pentane and the framework isomorphic substitution of germanium for silicon. Analysis of the crystal structure determined by direct methods from synchrotron powder diffraction data reveals 16 independent tetrahedrally coordinated atoms. This thermally and hydrothermally stable zeolite structure, when synthesized in its acidic form by incorporating aluminium in the framework, presents unique catalytic shape-selectivity effects derived from its particular pore topology.