The focus of this project is the encapsulation of metal complexes in zeolites and molecular sieves; three applications will be stressed. 1) New zeolites and molecular sieves will be synthesized by means of a recently developed procedure in which the metal complexes act as templates during zeolite crystalli- zation. 2) New catalysts with potential application in catalytic cracking will be prepared by modification of rare earth zeolites with fluorine. These catalysts are much more active in dehydration, dealkylaltion and disproportionation reactions. 3) Zeolite-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents will be prepared and optimized. %%% Dr. Kenneth J. Balkus, Jr. of the University of Texas at Dallas is supported as a Presidential Young Investigator by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry Program to study the chemistry of zeolites and molecular sieves. These materials are used in large quantities in industry as drying agents and as catalyst supports. The new materials with encapsulated metals which will be synthesized may have application as catalysts in the petroleum industry and as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents.
