Entrapment of cyclopentadiene in zeolite NaY and its application for solvent-free Diels–Alder reactions in the nanosized confined environment

Nonpolar cyclopentadiene was stably entrapped as a monomer in the hydrophilic supercages of zeolite NaY. A monomer form of cyclopentadiene in the supercages was confirmed by 13C MAS NMR spectroscopy. The adsorbed cyclopentadiene in the confined cavities performed the Diels–Alder reaction with typical dienophiles under solvent-free conditions more effectively than in organic and water media.