The combination of different experimental techniques, such as solid 13C and 1H magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction, together with theoretical calculations allows the determination of the unique structure directing the role of the bulky aromatic proton sponge 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (DMAN) towards the extra-large-pore ITQ-51 zeolite through supra-molecular assemblies of those organic molecules.
Keywords: catalysis; organic structure-directing agent; proton sponge; supra-molecular; zeolite.