Methods and phosphorus-containing solid catalysts for catalyzing dehydration of cyclic ethers (e.g., furans, such as 2,5-dimethylfuran) and alcohols (e.g., ethanol and isopropanol). The alcohols and cyclic ethers may be derived from biomass. One example includes a tandem Diels-Alder cycloaddition and dehydration of biomass-derived 2,5-dimethyl-furan and ethylene to renewable p-xylene. The phosphorus-containing solid catalysts are also active and selective for dehydration of alcohols to alkenes.

Forming a diene includes contacting a reactant including at least one of a cyclic ether and a diol with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a reaction mixture including a diene. The heterogeneous acid catalyst includes at least one of a Lewis acid catalyst, a supported Lewis-acid catalyst, a Brnsted acid catalyst, a solid acid catalyst, a supported phosphoric acid catalyst, and a sulfonated catalyst. The dehydration of cyclic ethers and diols with high selectivity to yield dienes completes pathways for the production of dienes, such as isoprene and butadiene, from biomass in high yields, thereby promoting economical production of dienes from renewable resources.

A family of highly charged crystalline microporous metallophosphate molecular sieves designated PST-16 has been synthesized. These metallophosphates are represented by the empirical formula of:
R.sup.p+.sub.rA.sub.m.sup.+M.sub.xE.sub.yPO.sub.z
where A is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an organoammonium cation such as ethyltrimethylammonium, M is a divalent metal such as zinc and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The PST-16 family of molecular sieves are stabilized by combinations of alkali and organoammonium cations, enabling unique metalloalumino(gallo)phosphate compositions and exhibit the CGS topology. The PST-17 family of molecular sieves has catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

A family of highly charged crystalline microporous metallophosphate molecular sieves designated PST-16 has been synthesized. These metallophosphates are represented by the empirical formula of:
R.sup.p+.sub.rA.sub.m.sup.+M.sub.xE.sub.yPO.sub.z
where A is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an organoammonium cation such as ethyltrimethylammonium, M is a divalent metal such as zinc and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The PST-16 family of molecular sieves are stabilized by combinations of alkali and organoammonium cations, enabling unique metalloalumino(gallo)phosphate compositions and exhibit the CGS topology. The PST-17 family of molecular sieves has catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

A new family of high charge density crystalline microporous silicometallophosphate designated SAPO-79 has been synthesized. These silicometallophosphate are represented by the empirical formula of:
R.sup.p+.sub.rM.sub.m.sup.+E.sub.xPSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where M is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an organoammonium cation such as diethyldimethylammonium and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The SAPO-79 family of materials represent the first alkali-stabilized phosphate-based molecular sieves to have the ERI topology and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

A new family of high charge density crystalline microporous silicometallophosphate designated SAPO-79 has been synthesized. These silicometallophosphate are represented by the empirical formula of:
R.sup.p+.sub.rM.sub.m.sup.+E.sub.xPSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where M is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an organoammonium cation such as diethyldimethylammonium and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The SAPO-79 family of materials represent the first alkali-stabilized phosphate-based molecular sieves to have the ERI topology and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

A new family of crystalline microporous high charge density silicometallophosphates has been synthesized. These silicometallophosphate are represented by the empirical formula of:
R.sup.p+.sub.rM.sub.m.sup.+E.sub.xPSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where M is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is any quaternary ammonium cation such as ethyltrimethylammonium and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. This family of high charge density silicometallophosphate molecular sieves has catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

A new family of crystalline microporous high charge density silicometallophosphates has been synthesized. These silicometallophosphate are represented by the empirical formula of:
R.sup.p+.sub.rM.sub.m.sup.+E.sub.xPSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where M is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is any quaternary ammonium cation such as ethyltrimethylammonium and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. This family of high charge density silicometallophosphate molecular sieves has catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

A new family of crystalline microporous metalloalumino(gallo)phosphosilicates designated MeAPSO-82 has been synthesized. These metalloalumino(gallo)phosphosilicates are represented by the empirical formula of:
R.sup.p+.sub.rA.sup.+.sub.mM.sup.2+.sub.wE.sub.xPSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where A is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an quaternary ammonium cation such as ethyltrimethylammonium, M is a divalent metal such as Zn and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. This family of metalloalumino(gallo)phosphosilicate materials are stabilized by combinations of alkali and quaternary ammonium cations, enabling unique, high charge density compositions. The MeAPSO-82 family of materials have the CGS topology and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

A new family of crystalline microporous metalloalumino(gallo)phosphosilicates designated MeAPSO-82 has been synthesized. These metalloalumino(gallo)phosphosilicates are represented by the empirical formula of:
R.sup.p+.sub.rA.sup.+.sub.mM.sup.2+.sub.wE.sub.xPSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where A is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an quaternary ammonium cation such as ethyltrimethylammonium, M is a divalent metal such as Zn and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. This family of metalloalumino(gallo)phosphosilicate materials are stabilized by combinations of alkali and quaternary ammonium cations, enabling unique, high charge density compositions. The MeAPSO-82 family of materials have the CGS topology and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.