3D Open-Framework Vanadoborate as a Highly Effective Heterogeneous Pre-catalyst for the Oxidation of Alkylbenzenes

Three three-dimensional (3D) open-framework
vanadoborates, denoted
as SUT-6-Zn, SUT-6-Mn, and SUT-6-Ni, were synthesized using diethylenetriamine
as a template. SUT-6-Zn, SUT-6-Mn, and SUT-6-Ni are isostructural
and built from (VO)12O6 B18O36(OH)6 clusters bridged by ZnO5, MnO6, and NiO6 polyhedra, respectively, to form the
3D frameworks. SUT-6 is the first vanadoborate with a 3D framework.
The framework follows a semiregular hxg net topology with a 2-fold interpenetrated diamond-like channel
system. The amount of template used in the synthesis played an important
role in the dimensionality of the resulting vanadoborate structures.
A small amount of diethylenetriamine led to the formation of this
first 3D vanadoborate framework, while an increased amount of diethylenetriamine
resulted in vanadoborates with zero-dimensional (0D) and one-dimensional
(1D) structures. SUT-6-Zn was proved to be an efficient heterogeneous
precatalyst for the oxidation of alkylbenzenes.