Unambiguous Observation of Electron Transfer from a Zeolite Framework to Organic Molecules

Making a hole: Oxygen atoms bridging two silicon atoms in a protonated zeolite can be oxidized through reaction with an alkyl bromide to generate paramagnetic centers in the zeolite framework (see structures and EPR spectrum; red O, blue Si, purple Al, green C, yellow Br, white H). Electron transfer from the zeolite framework could partially explain the range of products formed in acid-catalyzed reactions with zeolite catalysts.