Template-free sol-gel synthesis of catalytically active mesoporous aluminosilicates.

A template-free sol-gel synthesis method has been developed for obtaining mesoporous alumino-silicates with a narrow pore size distribution. The effect of the synthesis conditions on the formation of the porous structure and on the phase composition and surface acidity of the aluminosilicates has been elucidated. The catalytic properties of the synthesized aluminosilicates with SiO/AlO = 20 in the oligomerization of α-methylstyrene and 1-octene have been investigated. The highest oligomerization activity is shown by the aluminosilicate synthesized in two steps. The mesoporous aluminosilicates far exceed zeolite H-Beta (SiO/AlO = 18) in activity and in selectivity toward products with a higher degree of oligomerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]