ZEOLITES AS MICROREACTION VESSELS

Zeolites are characterized by microcrystalline pores and cavities of molecular dimensions. One of the consequences of this is the well-recognized phenomenon of shape selective catalysis. In addition to this catalytic selectivity zeolite structures enable them to function as micro-vessels for chemical reactions where a few molecules can be isolated and made to react, leading to interesting selectivities. Reported examples of this phenomenon from three areas, namely photochemical halogenation, photoreactions of ketones and Diels-Alder reactions, are reviewed.