INTERCALATION OF ALKYLAMINES INTO DEHYDRATED AND HYDRATED ZINC PHENYLPHOSPHONATES

Primary amines, CnH2n+1NH2 (n=3-8), were intercalated into layered anhydrous zinc phenylphosphonate Zn(O3PC6H5) and its monohydrate Zn(O3PC6H5). H2O when the host compounds were brought into contact with liquid amines, in both cases, 1 mol of amine was intercalated forming layered compounds of composition Zn(O3PC6H5).(RNH(2)) as characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and infrared spectroscopy. The amines coordinate to the zinc atoms at the site vacated by the water molecule. A plot of the interlayer distances of the intercalates vs. the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of the amine gives a straight line with a slope of 1.24 Angstrom, which indicates that the alkyl chains are most likely packed as an interdigitated monolayer with a tilt angle of 78 degrees with respect to the mean plane of the layer. A comparison of the intercalation reactions of Zn, Co and Cu methyl- and phenyl-phosphonates is included in the discussion section.