Localization of ferrocene in NaY zeolite by powder x-ray and neutron diffraction

Abstract

We study the inclusion of the metallocene ferrocene Fe(C5H5)2 molecules in the supercages of NaY zeolite. To find the exact location of the ferrocene molecules within the supercages we perform neutron and powder x-ray diffraction on bare NaY zeolite, and on NaY zeolite loaded with one or two ferrocene molecules per supercage. Using the complementary properties of both techniques we show that the ferrocene molecules are located just above a line joining two neighboring sodium ions at the SII positions in the zeolite supercage. The C5H5 rings are oriented towards the sodium ions in an ordered manner. This structure is confirmed by quantum chemistry calculations. The geometry of the ferrocene molecules barely changes, indicating that the increased reactivity of ferrocene upon adsorption in a zeolite is thus a result of the position of the molecules. The main interactions responsible for this position are Coulombic attraction and hydrogen bonding. The inclusion of ferrocene in a Y-type zeolite provides a homogeneous distribution of iron throughout the zeolite at well-defined locations.