Zeolite Structure Direction: Metals with a Dual Role as Amine Coordinators and Siloxy Connectors

Innovation in the synthesis of new zeolites is achieved primarily through the use of costly novel organic compounds as structure-directing agents (SDAs). Here, a novel type of structure-direction based on a metal-amine coordination polymer leading to a 3-dimensional silicate-based hybrid material, LEU-1, is presented. The Zn-amine polymer not only serves as an SDA, but also plays a practical role in extending the inorganic connectivity in the form of Zn-O-Si bonds. This dual-role mechanism leads to unique hybrids with huge potential for creating zeolite-like materials. It is demonstrated that by using the silicate layer in LEU-1 as a platform, two novel pure-silica zeolites can be generated. This synthesis strategy, rooted in the coordination diversity of metal-amines, opens the door to more novel zeolite structures.