Abstract

A family of four aluminium benzylphosphonate phases has been synthesised using hydrothermal methods. The effect of changing the synthetic conditions (starting pH, starting Al∶P ratio, aluminium source etc.) has been studied and full structural characterisation of two of the phases by NMR, TGA and X-ray diffraction methods has been completed; Al(OH)(O₃PCH₂C₆H₅)·H₂O, monoclinic P2₁/c, a = 14.985(9), b = 7.066(5), c = 9.613(9) Å, β = 113.9(3)°, and Al₃H(PO₃CH₂C₆H₅)₅·H₂O, monoclinic P2₁/c, a = 17.2497(13), b = 25.7851(18), c = 9.4339(7) Å, β = 103.567(1)°.