Triptycene Structure-Directing Agents in Aluminophosphate Synthesis

The synthesis of aluminophosphates is investigated using a number of triptycene-based organic structure-directing agents (OSDA). These OSDAs are designed to synthesize extra-large pore and/or large cavity-containing molecular sieves. Starting from the hydrophobic triptycene molecule, OSDAs are prepared by introducing three amine-based centers that can be charged either by protonation in the acidic aluminophosphate reaction media or through quaternization. VPI-5 is synthesized using these tripytycene OSDAs, and the OSDAs are occluded inside the pores. This synthesis marks the first time VPI5 has been made as a single phase with an OSDA occluded inside the framework of the as-made material that is not removed by simple washing with water or other solvents. Additionally, several other aluminophosphates with unknown structures are synthesized using these new OSDAs. M AN US CR IP T AC CE PT ED ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 2 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT