Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The design of molecular precursors to materials for catalysis will be described. Aluminum fluoride is an important catalytic material for fluorocarbon transformations which are key to the production of CFC alternatives. Catalytic activity is closely related to the crystalline phase of the bulk AIF3 and we show how this phase chemistry can be precisely controlled using molecular precursors to produce pure known phases and also to extend to previously unknown phases. A similar approach to vanadyl phosphate oxidation catalysts will be described where cluster chemistry can be invoked to generate isolated fragments of a catalyst's structure and then used either to explore mechanism or be used as precursors to functional catalyst materials. The underlying themes of controlled molecular precursor synthesis, resultant processability and eventual easy conversion to useful materials are emphasized throughout.