Preparation and characterization of Mg–Al layered double hydroxides intercalated with benzenesulfonate and benzenedisulfonate

Mg–Al layered double hydroxides (Mg–Al LDHs) intercalated with benzenesulfonate (BS–) and benzenedisulfonate (BDS2–) ions were prepared by coprecipitation and characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, and chemical analyses. The intercalated BS– and BDS2– maintained their intrinsic molecular structures within the Mg–Al LDH interlayers. At low intercalation levels, the benzene ring of BS– in BS · Mg–Al LDH was inclined at 30° relative to the plane of the brucite-like layers of Mg–Al LDH. With increasing BS– content, the benzene ring adopted an additional configuration perpendicular to the Mg–Al LDH layers. In BDS-intercalated Mg–Al LDH, the benzene ring of BDS2– was tilted at 26° relative to the plane of the Mg–Al LDH layers. Intercalation levels of BDS2– were smaller than those of BS– despite the greater charge density of BDS2–, which was likely attributable to a greater degree of electrostatic repulsion between intercalated anions.