Coordination chemistry and reactivity of copper in zeolites

► The Cu coordination and location in zeolites is reviewed. ► Zeolites create a unique constrained microenvironment for Cu complexes (biomimics). ► Zeolites don't merely act as support, but alter the coordination chemistry of ligated copper ions. ► The reactive species for C-H bond activation in Cu-ZM-5 is a mono(μ-oxo)dicopper core. ► This mono(μ-oxo)dicopper core is related to the exceptional deNOx catalysis of Cu-ZSM-5.