Reaction of aluminium alkoxides with various glycols and the layer structure of their products

Abstract

The reaction of Al(OR)₃(R = Prⁱ or Bu^s) with glycols was examined. The XRD patterns and IR spectra of the products suggest that they have the layer structure of boehmite with the glycol moiety incorporated between its layers through covalent bonding. The crystallite size of the product increased in the following order (carbon number of glycol): 2 < 3 < 6 < 4. When butane-1,4-diol was used the crystallite size of the product was the largest. This order suggests that heterolytic cleavage of C–O bonds is the prime factor controlling the growth of the boehmite structure.