INTERCALATION OF A CROWN-ETHER INTO LAYERED SILICATES

Intercalation of a crown ether (1 8-crown-6) into layered silicates was investigated. Intercalation compounds with the basal spacings of ca. 1.9nm were obtained by the solid-state reactions between K-, Rb-, and NH4-montmorillonitesand 18-crown-6, while the basal spacings of the products were different (1.4, 1.5, and 1.5 nm for K-, Rb-, and NH4-montmorillonites, respectively) when a methanolic solution of 18-crown-6 was employed. 18-crown-6 was intercalated into theinterlayer space of non swelling K-fluor-tetrasilicic mica probably due to the strong interactions between interlayer cations and 18-crown-6. The reaction between Kkenyaite and 18-crown-6 gave an intercalation compound with the basal spacing of ca. 3.0nm. It has been proved that the reactions between the layered silicates and 18-crown-6 without solvents are novel synthetic ways to lead intercalationcompounds.