A new experimental protocol for intrazeolite photooxidations. The first product-based estimate of an upper limit for the intrazeolite singlet oxygen lifetime.

The intrazeolite photooxidations of several alkenes have been examined in hexane and in perfluorohexane slurries. The ability of perfluorohexane to increase the affinity of alkenes for the interior of the zeolite was documented. The nearly identical reaction rates in the two slurry solvents are attributed to a leveling of the singlet oxygen lifetime by the zeolite framework. A consideration of the rates of the various intrazeolite processes was used to estimate an upper limit for the intrazeolite lifetime of singlet oxygen.