A “S⁻N⁺∼I⁻ pathway” (S⁻: anionic surfactant, N⁺: cationic amino group and I: inorganic species) for the synthesis of mesoporous silica has been developed by using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) as a co-structure directing agent (CSDA), which can interact with the anionic head group in the surfactant (SDA). Thus synthesized mesoporous silica has been designated as AMS (Anionic-surfactant-templated Mesoporous Silica). Removal of the anionic surfactant by extraction led to the functionalized AMS containing amino groups on the silica surface. Amino-functionalized AMS using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) and lauric acid sodium salt (LAS) as CSDA and SDA, respectively, was synthesized with varying proportions of APS in the silica sources (x-APS-AMS, where x is the proportion of APS in the silica sources, x = 0.1–0.6). In 0.4-APS-AMS, the content of amino groups derived from APS estimated by CHN elemental analysis and the argentometric titration was 2.36 and 2.24 mmol g⁻¹, respectively, suggesting that almost all the aminopropyl moieties were on the surfaces in contrast to the MCM-41 type materials synthesized with a cationic surfactant. Thus obtained amino-functionalized AMS via the anionic surfactant templating route shows a higher adsorption capacity for Co²⁺ cations than amino-functionalized MCM-41 prepared by the direct co-condensation method via a conventional cationic templating route. There was also a marked difference in the activity for the Knoevenagel reaction between amino-functionalized AMS and MCM-41, indicating a significant difference in the state of aminopropyl moieties exposed to the surfaces.

The interlayer silylation of pure silica PLS-1 with dichlorodimethylsilane gave a novel organic–inorganic hybrid zeolite IEZ-1, of which the micropores are able to adsorb benzene molecules, in contrast to its purely inorganic analogue IEZ-2.

Mesoporous silica has been used as a heterogeneous support for catalysts; however, asymmetric induction by the helicity of inorganic mesoporous silica itself has not yet been achieved. P- and M-helical mesoporous silica was found to act as a chiral inorganic trigger for asymmetric autocatalysis to afford (S) and (R)-pyrimidyl alkanol with >99.5% ee, respectively.

In addition to the original preparation route of the RTH-type zeolites using 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidine (PMP) as an organic structure directing agent (OSDA), we have found that simpler organic amines such as N-methylpiperidine and pyridine can be used as alternative OSDAs in place of PMP. Furthermore, we have established a synthesis method for preparing the RTH-type zeolites without using any OSDAs. In this study, RTH-type aluminosilicates were synthesized with different types of OSDA or without using any OSDAs. The obtained zeolites synthesized with different preparation methods were characterized by using various techniques, especially high-resolution ²⁷Al MAS NMR and in situ FT-IR techniques using CO adsorption. The relationship between the preparation method and the catalytic performance in the methanol to olefins (MTO) reaction was discussed. Finally, the distribution of Al species in the RTH-framework was clarified.

Catalytic cracking of n-hexane to selectively produce propylene on Beta zeolite was carried out. The H-Beta (HB) (Si/Al = 77) zeolite showed higher catalytic stability and propylene selectivity than the Al-rich HB (Si/Al = 12), due to its smaller number of acid sites, especially Lewis acid sites (LAS). However, catalytic stability and propylene selectivity in high n-hexane conversions were still not satisfactory. After dealumination with HNO₃ treatment, catalytic stability was improved and propylene selectivity during high n-hexane conversions was increased. On the other hand, catalytic stability was not improved after desilication with NaOH treatment, although mesopores were formed. This may be related to the partially destroyed structure. However, propylene selectivity in high n-hexane conversions was increased after alkali treatment. We successfully found that the catalytic stability was improved and the propylene selectivity in high n-hexane conversions was further increased after the NaOH treatment followed by HNO₃ treatment. This is due to the decrease in the number of acid sites and the increase in mesopores which are beneficial to the diffusion of coke precursor.