INTERCALATION OF AMMONIA INTO ZINC AND COBALT PHENYLPHOSPHONATES

Zn(O3PC6H5).H2O and Co(O3PC6H5).H2O can be easily dehydrated to yield structures that are isomorphous with the corresponding monohydrate. The dehydration is reversible since both derivatives quickly reabsorb moisture from the atmosphere. The dehydration reaction leaves an open coordination site on the metal allowing both anhydrous zinc and cobalt phenylphosphonates to intercalate ammonia upon exposure to a flow of ammonia gas, as evidenced by FTIR, elemental analysis, and TGA data. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, propylamine, and ethylene were not similarly intercalated. Computer-simulated calculations indicate that intercalation of molecules larger than NH3 result in significant overlap of van der Waals surfaces between the intercalate and the phenyl rings.