Chemoselective hydroperoxidation of alkenylarenes within thionin-supported zeolite Na-Y

Photooxidation of several 1-aryl-2-methylpropenes within the thionin-supported zeolite Na-Y affords the ene type allylic hydroperoxides in a highly chemoselective manner. This is in contrast to their photooxygenation reaction in solution, where the ene pathway is less favorable compared to the [4+2] or [2+2] pathways. Cation-π interactions are likely to be responsible for this selectivity.