Extra-Large Pore Titanosilicate Synthesized via Reversible 3D-2D-3D Structural Transformation as Highly Active Catalyst for Cycloalkene Epoxidation

Titanosilicates with extra-large pores or cages are expected to effectively release the diffusion constraints suffered by the bulky substrates in the hydrogen peroxide-involved liquid-phase selective oxidation reactions. A reversible 3D-2D-3D structural transformation was developed to fabricate a highly active IWV-type titanosilicate (Ti-IWV) with a two-dimensional intersecting 12-membered ring (MR) channel system and extra-large 14-MR supercages. The IWV germanosilicate was readily disassembled into a layered 2D material (Hydro-IWV) in HNO3 aqueous solution, which was reconstructed to Ti-IWV with various Ti contents (Si/Ti ratio of 40-∞) through the (NH4)2TiF6-assisted isomorphous substitution of Ti and structure repair. The fluoride anions were critical to recover the interlayer double-four-ring (d4r) units, which were destroyed in the hydrolysis process. Ti-IWV was extremely active in the liquid-phase epoxidation reaction of cycloalkenes, especially showing a much higher conversion (99%) for cyclooctene than conventional titanosilicates. Rather than diffusion rate, the high capacity for the adsorption of bulky alkene molecules of extra-large 14-MR cages contributed to the outstanding activity of Ti-IWV.