Synthesis, characterization and catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen over host (zeolite-Y)/guest (nickel(II) complexes of R2[12]1,3-dieneN2O2 and R2[13]1,4-dieneN2O2; R = H, Me, Ph) nanocatalyst (HGN)

12- and 13-Membered diaza dioxa Schiff-base nickel(II) complexes were successfully prepared in a nanoscale microreactor by the template condensation of (1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane)nickel(II) complex with bifunctional diketones within the nanodimensional pores of zeolite Y. The host–guest nanocatalyst (HGN); ([Ni((R2[12]1,3-dieneN2O2)]2+-NaY, [Ni(R2[13]1,4-dieneN2O2)]2+-NaY; R = H, Me and Ph) is catalytically very efficient as compared to other neat complexes for oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen as oxidant in the absence of solvent at 70 °C, affording 2-cyclohexene-1-ol and 2-cyclohexene-1-one.