Induced diastereoselectivity in photodecarboxylation of 2-phenylpropionic acid in faujasite zeolites

Irradiation of 2-phenylpropionic acid in various cation-exchanged faujasites leads to predominant formation of dl-2,3-diphenylbutane over the meso-isomer (in marked contrast to photolysis in isotropic media) and this zeolite-induced diastereoselectivity is attributed to steric and electronic factors.