Enantioselective photoreduction of arylalkyl ketones via restricting the reaction to chirally modified zeolite cages

(equation presented) Obtaining a high enantiomeric excess during a photoreaction within a zeolite is hampered by the statistical distribution of reactant and chiral inductor molecules within the cages of a zeolite. By restricting the photoreactions to only those cages that contain both the reactant and a chiral inductor, one should be able to avoid reactions that yield racemic products. This approach is illustrated with the photoreduction of an arylalkyl ketone by a chiral inductor with an amino group.