Stabilized pillared layered clay, process for its production

Claim 2

A stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by boria.

Claim 3

A stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by a substance selected from the group consisting of magnesia and boria.

Claim 4

A stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by a substance selected from the group consisting of magnesia and boria.

Claim 5

A stabilised pillared layered clay according to claim 2, pillared by magnesia.

Claim 6

A process for the production of stabilized pillared layered clay which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, said material being a boron trihalide, a Grignard reagent or an organometallic reagent thereby pillaring the clay.

Claim 7

A process for the production of stabilized pillared layered clay which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, said material being a boron trihalide, a Grignard reagent or an organometallic reagent thereby pillaring the clay.

Claim 8

A stabilised pillared layered clay according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein the layered clay is a naturally occurring smectite clay.

Claim 9

A stabilised pillared layered clay according to claim 2 or 4 wherein the smectite clay is either a hectorite, a chlorite, a bentonite, a montmorillonite or a beidellite.

Claim 10

A stabilised pillared layered clay according to claim 1 or 4 wherein the layered clay is a synthetic clay.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 4 wherein the layered clay is cation-exchanged prior to reaction with the material capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 4 wherein the stabilised pillared layered clay is cation-exchanged.

Claim 13

A process for the production of a stabilised pillared layered clay, which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with a material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, thereby pillaring the clay, wherein said material is a boron trihalide etherate.

Claim 14

A process for the production of a stabilised pillared layered clay, which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with a material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, thereby pillaring the clay, wherein said material is a boron trihalide etherate.

Claim 15

A process for the production of a stabilised pillared layered clay, which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with a material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, thereby pillaring the clay, wherein said material is boron trifluoride.

Claim 16

A process for the production of a stabilised pillared layered clay, which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with a material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, thereby pillaring the clay, wherein said material is boron trifluoride.

Claim 17

A process capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids comprising contacting a substance capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids with an effective amount of an catalyst comprising a stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by magnesia.

Claim 18

A process capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids comprising contacting a substance capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids with an effective amount of an catalyst comprising a stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by magnesia.

Claim 19

A process for the production of a stabilised pillared layered clay, which has been pillared by a substance selected from the group consisting of magnesia and boria, which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with a material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, thereby pillaring the clay with said magnesia or boria.

Claim 20

A process for the production of a stabilised pillared layered clay, which has been pillared by a substance selected from the group consisting of magnesia and boria, which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with a material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, thereby pillaring the clay with said magnesia or boria.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 13 wherein the layered clay is cation-exchanged prior to reaction with the material capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups.

Claim 22

A process for the production of a stabilised pillared layered clay, which has been pillared by a substance selected from the group consisting of magnesia and boria, which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with a material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, wherein the material capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups and thereby leaving a residue of the material is a boron trihalide, or a Grignard reagent having the formula RMgX, wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group and X is a halide, and thereby pillaring the clay with said magnesia or boria.

Claim 23

A process for the production of a stabilised pillared layered clay, which has been pillared by a substance selected from the group consisting of magnesia and boria, which process comprises reacting under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent a layered clay having hydroxyl groups associated with the structure thereof with a material capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups and leaving a residue of the material, wherein the material capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups and thereby leaving a residue of the material is a boron trihalide, or a Grignard reagent having the formula RMgX, wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group and X is a halide, and thereby pillaring the clay with said magnesia or boria.

Claim 24

A process according to claim 15 wherein the material capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups and thereby leaving a residue of the material is a boron trihalide etherate.

Claim 25

A process according to claim 16 wherein the boron trihalide is boron trifluoride.

Claim 26

A process capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids comprising contacting a substance capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids with an effective amount of a catalyst comprising a stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by boria.

Claim 27

A process capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids comprising contacting a substance capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids with an effective amount of a catalyst comprising a stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by boria.

Claim 28

A process capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids comprising contacting a substance capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids with an effective amount of a catalyst comprising a stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by a substance selected from the group consisting of magnesia and boria.

Claim 29

A process capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids comprising contacting a substance capable of catalysis by protons and/or Lewis acids with an effective amount of a catalyst comprising a stabilised pillared layered clay comprising a layered clay pillared by a substance selected from the group consisting of magnesia and boria.