Relative reactivities of tethered functional groups in the interior of a zeolite

[reaction: see text] The reactions of singlet oxygen with substrates containing both sulfide and olefinic linkages have been examined. The dramatic increase in sulfoxide formation in the interior of the zeolite in comparison to solution is attributed to zeolite stabilization of the persulfoxide intermediate and concomitant inhibition of physical quenching of singlet oxygen.