Intercalation of lactones into vanadyl phosphate

Intercalates of vanadyl phosphate with α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone, γ-caprolactone, δ-valerolactone, and ε-caprolactone were prepared by a displacement reaction of ethanol-intercalated VOPO4. As follows from the results of elemental analyses and thermogravimetry, intercalates contain about one molecule of the guest per formula unit. The diffractograms of the intercalates show a series of sharp (001) reflections, (200) reflection and some (hkl) lines with low intensity. The tetragonal lattice parameters of the intercalates were calculated. Both δ-valerolactone and ε-caprolactone intercalates are stable in air. The intercalates of lactones with side aliphatic chains are less stable. The CO stretching vibration in IR spectra of the intercalates prepared was shifted to lower wavenumbers in comparison with spectra of the pure guests, indicating that lactones are anchored to the host layers by their carbonyl oxygen. Analogously to the arrangement of γ-butyrolactone, also arrangement of molecules of other lactones in the interlayer space of the host layers was proposed.