Intercalation of Alkylammonium Cations into a Layered Titanate in the Presence of Macrocyclic Compounds

Novel one-pot synthesis of layered organoammonium−tetratitanate intercalation compounds by the ion exchange reactions between potassium tetratitanate (K2Ti4O9·nH2O) and alkylammonium chlorides in the presence of a crown ether (18-crown-6) or a cryptand ([2.2.2]-cryptand) in an organic solvent (1,4-dioxane) is reported. The intercalated alkylammonium ions take a paraffin type arrangement in the interlayer space of tetratitanate. The macrocyclic ligands preferentially interact with interlayer potassium ions to promote the ion exchange reactions. The novel one-pot synthesis of the organic−tetratitanate intercalation compounds is a versatile technique for the preparation of inorganic−organic inclusion complexes.