Site specificity in the photooxidation of some trisubstituted alkenes in thionin-supported zeolite Na-Y. On the role of the alkali metal cation

The less substituted side of some geminal dimethyl trisubstituted alkenes becomes significantly more reactive if photooxygenation takes place in thionin-supported zeolite Na-Y. These results are mainly attributed to a synergistic interaction between the alkali metal cation, the alkene, and the oxygen in the transition state of perepoxide formation.