The Brønsted/Lewis acid synergy in dealuminated HY zeolite has been studied using solid-state NMR and density function theory (DFT) calculation. The 1H double quantum magic-angle spinning (DQ-MAS) NMR results have revealed, for the first time, the detailed spatial proximities of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites. The results from 13C NMR of adsorbed acetone as well as DFT calculation demonstrated that the Brønsted/Lewis acid synergy considerably enhanced the Brønsted acid strength of dealuminated HY zeolite. Two types of Brønsted acid sites (with enhanced acidity) in close proximity to extra-framework aluminum (EFAL) species were identified in the dealuminated HY zeolite. The NMR and DFT calculation results further revealed the detailed structures of EFAL species and the mechanism of Brønsted/Lewis acid synergy. Extra-framework Al(OH)3 and Al(OH)2+ species in the supercage cage and Al(OH)2+ species in the sodalite cage are the preferred Lewis acid sites. Moreover, it is the coordination of the EFAL species to the oxygen atom nearest the framework aluminum that leads to the enhanced acidity of dealuminated HY zeolite though there is no direct interaction (such as the hydrogen-bonding) between the EFAL species and the Brønsted acid sites. All these findings are expected to be important in understanding the roles of Lewis acid and its synergy with the Brønsted acid in numerous zeolite-mediated hydrocarbon reactions.

The 31P NMR chemical shifts of adsorbed trimethylphosphine oxide (TMPO) and the configurations of the corresponding TMPOH+ complexes on Brønsted acid sites with varying acid strengths in modeled zeolites have been predicted theoretically by means of density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculations. The configuration of each TMPOH+ complex was optimized at the PW91/DNP level based on an 8T cluster model, whereas the 31P chemical shifts were calculated with the gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) approach at both the HF/TZVP and MP2/TZVP levels. A linear correlation between the 31P chemical shift of adsorbed TMPO and the proton affinity of the solid acids was observed, and a threshold for superacidity (86 ppm) was determined. This threshold for superacidity was also confirmed by comparative investigations on other superacid systems, such as carborane acid and heteropolyoxometalate H3PW12O40. In conjunction with the strong correlation between the MP2 and the HF 31P isotropic shifts, the 8T cluster model was extended to more sophisticated models (up to 72T) that are not readily tractable at the GIAO-MP2 level, and a 31P chemical shift of 86 ppm was determined for TMPO adsorbed on zeolite H-ZSM-5, which is in good agreement with the NMR experimental data.